How Great Is Our God

October 2026

In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself “the Great” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular.

As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak. Slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”

Songwriter Chris Tomlin wrote, “Name above all names, You are worthy of all praise. And my heart will sing, how great is our God. How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God. And all will see, how great, how great is our God.” Our God is a great God, and He does great things for us. The word “great” is still one of the best superlatives we have to describe Him.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 96:4, “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Our God is the one true God. All other gods are idols. He is the living and loving God. There is none like Him in all the universe. He created all things, and He holds all things together. He is truly incomparable!

We praise and worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! He who is greatness personified came down to this sinful earth to die on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and has promised to come back to take us home to with Him. John 1:18 says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son (or God), who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

We must all fall on our knees and on our faces before Him! It is no one wonder that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He is the One with whom we have a personal relationship. The hymn writer said it well, “Then sings my soul, my Savior, God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art.” Can you join with me in all sublimity and simplicity in proclaiming: “How great is our God!”