September 23, 2002  

"HAVE YOU SEEN ANY GOOD SUNSETS LATELY?"

"Have you seen any good sunsets lately?" That's how David Allan Hubbard begins his meditation on Psalm 19,* calling attention to the familiar words of that psalm:
"The heavens declare the glory of God."

There have been some picturesque sunsets this summer, but if you come up to the average Southern California resident and ask "Have you seen any good sunsets lately?" They'd immediately identify the one that stands out. It happened a little over a week ago, and it was glorious. Near the western horizon of the darkening sky was a dramatic, glowing white plume, topped by bright yellow and orange highlights. It was a stunner.

Unfortunately, God didn't paint this one by himself. What produced this awesome display was the launching of a test missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc. So for that one evening, the psalm might be revised:
"The heavens declare the glory of man."

As silly as it seems, this is the feeling many Americans get when we see a powerful display of our Nation's military might. It's easy to become patriotic to the point of idolatry, thinking that America's superiority in missiles, bombs and aircraft makes us the world's sole judge of what's right and good.

There's a Biblical story about a great, unchallenged world power. Its leaders let this go to their heads. They said, "Let's build a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves." And they set out to build their great tower to the glory of man.

Read Genesis chapter 11 to find out how God responded. This is the same Almighty Creator God who said through the prophet Isaiah,
"I am the Lord, that is my name; I will not share my glory with another." (Isaiah 42:8)

In the critical time in which we live, America will prove itself to be a truly great nation only to the degree that she learns humility. When Americans delude themselves into thinking that might makes right, the collapse of the tower is just around the corner.

"Have you seen any good sunsets lately?" Hopefully, they unequivocally "declared the glory of God"—of God alone.

–Pastor George VanAlstine

*More Psalms for All Seasons, Eardmans, 1975