Youth and the Awesomeness of God, Part 4

The Supremacy of God's Awesomeness

We're continuing in our study on the awesomeness of God, recognizing that in comparison to God, anything non-God is not awesome. God is the highest form of awesome—the peak, the epitome, with an infinitude behind his awesomeness. It's impossible to find something more awesome than God.

Because of the extremeness, extensiveness, and immensity of his awesomeness, even things we consider awesome pale in comparison. Relationships, entertainment, sports, lounging by a pool or on a beach, action-packed movies—they're not awesome next to God.

Does that mean we throw everything out? No. If we experience sports, friendships, marriage, or dating as holy individuals, attributing them to God's awesomeness and participating as he intends, then we're experiencing the real awesomeness of God. Whatever is good or awesome in those circumstances comes from God granting it. All non-God things remain non-awesome unless engaged in as God things.

Beholding God Truly

Last week, we examined a three-step process to behold God: who he really is, what he really does, and what he has said. We look to Scripture alone—not feelings or creation deeply, though Romans 1 shows creation reveals his existence. Scripture is where God is ultimately and clearly found.

We must see him entirely, not just John 3:16 or that God is love. We need what he says about love, sin, right, and wrong—even uncomfortable parts, like God sending an angel to slay men, women, and children in judgment in Jerusalem. We can't pick and choose; we must have the whole God revealed in Scripture. Willfully ignoring parts means not believing the God of the Bible.

Beholding God reveals what he says about humanity: we're not awesome. Our existence is nothing compared to his. He declares us dead in trespasses and sins, deserving eternal judgment under his wrath. Only his mere good pleasure holds back judgment.

Then we see Jesus Christ. God declares,

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This causes despair of self—I offer nothing, extending an empty hand of faith. Desperation for Christ. Death to sin, the hindrance to fellowship with God.

Jesus: Entirely God, Entirely Awesome

Tonight, focusing on Jesus as entirely God—entirely awesome. We'll see why it's beneficial to be in Christ: not just loved and pleasing to God, but blessed in walking with him. All non-Christ things are non-awesome.

John 2:1-12 illustrates this.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Non-God Things Are Not Awesome

This familiar story goes deeper than Jesus fixing a wine shortage. First-century weddings lasted a week, parading the bride and groom like royalty. Wine symbolized joy. Good wine (best tasting, fresh, quality—not potency) was served first; later, poorer wine after guests were drunk and taste dulled.

Running out of wine was embarrassing—joy depleted mid-celebration. Without acknowledging God's awesomeness, it's a non-God thing, thus not awesome. Even if wine lasted, the wedding ends, life resumes, disappointment follows without transcendent value.

Weddings are blips—Psalm 39 compares life to a breath; seven days insignificant. 2 Corinthians 3 describes non-God works as wood, hay, stubble—burned up, no eternal value.

The Solution: Christ Provides True Awesomeness

For awesomeness, we crave good-tasting wine that lasts, a wedding that doesn't end. Jesus turns purification jars (Old Testament rites) into superior wine—symbolizing his blood, the new covenant surpassing law for purification.

Holiness is essential. Without it, even God's awesomeness isn't grasped; non-God pursuits run out like wine, leaving embarrassment and sin's baggage (Romans 1). Jesus creates wine ex nihilo, like creation—always the best, never leftovers or vinegar.

In Matthew 26:29: “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Revelation 19:6-9 describes heaven's wedding feast of the Lamb—eternal celebration as Christ's bride. No end to this transcendent joy.

Closing Considerations

Don't misapply: this isn't “yay wine” or perfect weddings. Respond with holiness—Jesus creates wine from purification symbols, his blood forgiving sin. Sin forfeits God's awesomeness.

Long for Christ, the source of joy. Like John 6 crowds chasing bread, or the woman at the well chasing wells that run dry, pursue the Provider. Non-God pleasures run out; only timeless, transcendent value in Christ and holiness endures.

Repetitive sin stems from dryness—lacking God's wine. In the desert, a dixie cup isn't enough; you need a well erupting eternally. Anticipate non-God things running out—find awesomeness in Christ.