Cross View Blog
For His Name Alone Is Excellent
October 27, 2020
In this sanctuary window the artist depicts the excellence of God's name through his dynamic creation. We see not only evidence of powerful wind and storms, but also the flight of birds and the creatures of the deep. The entire window exudes vibrant energy.
Wherever one contemplates the universe, we see excellence, not shoddy work. Genesis states it this way, "And God saw that it was good." The fact that we abuse creation should not obscure the goodness of the gift. The Garden was made for our pleasure, and despite the dissonance of sin, Eden still evokes pleasure in our darken minds and souls.
I was not able to identify the exact verse in Scripture that inspired the window artist, but it is similar to Psalm 8 when the psalmist declares:
"O LORD, our LORD,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens...
When I look at your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower
than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion
over the works of your hands...
the birds of the heavens,
and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our LORD,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Why might this be a comforting window while mourning the loss of a loved one in a mausoleum?
Because only the excellent and powerful name of the LORD is able to declare in the face of death itself, "Fear not, I have overcome the world! Through my resurrection and victory over death, you too shall rise on the Last Day. Your fears and sorrow are acknowledged, and through faith in my excellent name, I will crown you in glory and honor."
Having received that Word of Promise, we who are fearful and doubtful, can leave our mausoleums of sorrow and fear, and stride out into the world with hope and courage and even love.
Yes, He has made it all good - even the worst. His name alone is excellent!
Paul Emmel
The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
October 25, 2020
Paul Emmel is a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having served as a parish pastor, a correctional chaplain for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and a hospital chaplain and a community counselor. As a retired pastor, Paul continues to serve the Lord and His people, including establishing the Minnesota South District’s “Pastors to Prisoners” ministry.