You
are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Psalm 86:10
"Only God is great." That was the solemn and unexpected declaration of
Jean-Baptiste Massillon as he began his sermon at the funeral service of King Louis XIV.
The king, who liked to be referred to as Louis the Great, had ruled France from 1643 to
1715 with absolute power and incredible splendor. His funeral was held in a magnificent
cathedral that was lit by a single candle alongside the ornate coffin. When it was time
for Massillon to speak, he reached out and extinguished the flame. Then he broke the
silence with the words, "Only God is great."
We recognize and admire some of our fellow mortals who are considered to be great
thinkers, great scientists, great inventors, great achievers in every field of endeavor.
In many ways they tower above all of us ordinary people, but they still have the same
needs we do. They experience aches and pains. They have troubled minds and hungry hearts.
They cannot stave off death nor guarantee life beyond the grave.
Only God is truly greatgreat enough to meet all our needs, great enough to forgive
all our sins, and great enough to carry us through the dark valley of death into eternity,
to be with Him forever. So we declare with the psalmist, "You are great, . . . You
alone are God" (Psalm 86:10).
-VCG
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victoriousThy great name we praise.
-Smith
In a world of empty superlatives, God is the greatest.