… be glory, majesty, power and authority…
To the only God, our Savior, who keeps us from stumbling and brings us to Himself…
… be glory, majesty, power and authority…
Why does Jude tell us this? Isn’t it obvious that God is worthy of all glory and majesty? Doesn’t it make sense that all power and authority reside in the Creator of All Things?
No?
No. It is not obvious. People have to be told. Thinking back to the beginning of history, the people of Noah’s time (Genesis 6) were much closer to the origins of mankind. Yet they chose to turn their backs to God.
Imagine for a moment standing on top of a dam. On one side is a beautiful blue lake stretching for miles. On the other side a sheer drop to solid rock at the bottom of a steep valley. In a sense, the dam is very impressive, very strong. You might say it has majesty. There is a certain kind of glory that is embodied by the engineering and construction of the dam. It requires power to hold back all that water and since it controls the water flow it has authority over the water.
All these attributes are descriptive of a dam, yet not everyone appreciates the dam for what it is. The people who fish or play on the lake in ski boats don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the dam. The people who live down the valley from the dam do not lose a lot of sleep over it. Yet if the dam let go, the people above would lose their lake and the people below might lose their homes or more.
In the same way, we take God for granted. The glory, majesty, power and authority are all His. If he should withdraw his hand for the tiniest fraction of an instant, the “dam” would break and all existence as we know it would disappear.
Application: People have to be told. Don’t take this life for granted! Don’t assume it will never end.
Food for Thought: How are power and authority related?
Power and authority are related. For example, if Jesus had the power to save us and the will to save us, but did not have the authority to do so, He would be really wanting to save us but unable to move on that desire. Thankfully all authority on heaven and earth have been given to Him (Matthew 28: 18). Power is the ability to do something and authority is the permission to do something. Power with authority let’s the one in power move freely in good conscience. We see this at play right now quite a bit. Politicians are making decisions with great power, but there is a debate to their constitutional authority to do so. Ultimately, courts may decide the fate of their decisions. Jesus has no such problem, because all authority has been given to Him on heaven and earth. When He told us to go make disciples of all nations, we do so in His authority and in His power.
BTW: God knows He has all majesty, power and authority. One reason we confess this in worship is to remind ourselves.
Thank you, Rich! Nicely said. I especially appreciate the use of our current political situation as an example of the difference between power and authority.
Gods power and authority are elements of His sovereignty, God is free and has the power to do anything He chooses to do. God answers to no-one.
God called my son home some years ago. I spent time arguing with God about His decision, as He opened bible passages to my mind. Nothing satisfied me. Then God spoke Gently into my heart, “ Am I sovereign?” There is only one answer to this and I replied “yes, of course.” God then asked me, “ full time or part time?” Today I live in peace knowing our God is Sovereign full time. All Power and Authority belong to God, I serve and seek to understand.
Job 42:2, I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Daniel 4:35, He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?
Isaiah 46:9-10, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.
Matthew 10:29, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Ron,
Thank you for the beautiful response. Thank you also for sharing about your son. I appreciate that story so much because it speaks to God’s love for each of us. He took the time to listen to you argue with Him, and then as you wrote, he “gently spoke” into your heart. What a wonderful testimony and what a beautiful picture of our Father.
Thank you Jeff for all the work you are doing, allowing God to use you in this unique ministry. Our God with all power and authority is not a don’t bother me right now god. He is Omnipresent, everywhere at once, is fully capable, and fully desires a Father child relationship with each of us. Our bible teaches this, but God places His truths in our hearts in His way and in His time. An unexplained calm, peace comes into our lives as we begin to live in these eternal truths.
What can I say but, Amen!
👍🏻