• About
  • Blog
ED BANGHART

declaring God's Glory
It's what you are created for.

     My 5 year-old granddaughter, Hannah, asked my wife one day, "Did God make God?" That's a profound question for such a young philosopher! Do you know how hard it is to answer that question to a 5-year old ("Well, Hannah, God created everything, but God Himself is uncreated and eternal, without beginning or end."). Hannah accepted that explanation, and I don't think  she lost any sleep over it. But it reminded me of a truth that is so easy to forget and yet is so important to remember:

    The purpose of all creation is to declare and display
                                  the glory of God.

                 God created all things for His glory.

      All of creation exists to showcase the glory of God. Man, the crowning achievement of God's creation, has been set apart to make known the glory of God and to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

      The psalmist, while contemplating the vastness of our universe, pens the words, "The heavens declare the glory of God..." (Psalm 19:1). When you look up at the night sky and consider the billions of stars in our galaxy and the billions of galaxies in our universe, the sheer immensity of the space-time universe we inhabit is mind-numbing. 

​      THINK ABOUT IT: we share the celestial cosmos with countless galaxies, stars and planets, supernovas, black holes, meteors, comets, and who knows what else. 

      The heavens don't just declare the glory of God, they shout it out with a deafening sound!


​
     How much more should we, His people, declare and display His glory. It is the reason we exist.

Consider the following scriptures:


​"Ascribe to the Lord the GLORY due His name" 
(1 Chronicles 16:29).


"There is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we EXIST for Him" (1 Corinthians 8:6, NLT).

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but  to your name be the GLORY" (Psalm 115:1).

     Everything that God does is for the sake of His great name, and to the praise of His glorious grace so that He might be our All in All--for all things are FROM Him, and THROUGH Him and TO Him (Romans 11:36:1; 1 Cor.15:28).

He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,          the Beginning and the End and Everything in between.

     History is HIS STORY--the unfolding of God's eternal purpose in this present evil age. It's not about our glory, our name, our honor or our greatness. It's not about me; it's not about you; it's all about God! 

     An astronomer once quipped, "When scientists discover the center of our universe, a lot of people are going to be very disappointed that it isn't them!"

      The Bible is essentially a story about God, not a story about us. A key theme of the scriptures is the redemption of fallen mankind, however, the ultimate value of salvation is not to be seen in what we are saved FROM ; it's value is in what we are saved FOR!

Steven C. Hawthorne points out that, "The rationale for mission is the colossal worthiness of God...Since God is supreme, every creature should bow down in subjection" (Perspectives: The Story of His Glory, pg 50).

      In American culture, we have trivialized the God of transcendent glory and pushed Him out to the periphery of our lives. 

Donald W. McCullough proposes that we "Visit a church on Sunday morning and you will likely find a congregation comfortably relating to a manageable deity who fits nicely within precise doctrinal positions or who lends almighty support to social crusades...but reverence and awe have been replaced by a yawn of familiarity" (The Trivialization of God, pg 13).

God has set us apart as His people to make known His glory. His eternal purpose is to bring many sons to glory, who would share His life, His nature, His purpose and His glory.

Declaring and displaying the glory of God--it's what you were created for!

Lessons From the Bamboo Tree

3/5/2019

11 Comments

 
     The tallest growing plant in the world is the bamboo tree (which is not a tree at all; it's technically a grass). The average height of the bamboo tree is 15-40 feet; but some varieties can grow as high as 1,300 feet (that's 50 feet higher than the height of the Empire State Building!)

​     The bamboo tree is also the fastest growing plant in the world. It can grow up to three feet in 24 hours. The bamboo can also live for up to 120 years old in the wild. 
Picture
     One curious feature of the bamboo tree is its growth pattern. For instance, one variety of bamboo--the Chinese Bamboo Tree--only grows a few inches in the first five years. Then, sometime during the fifth year, it shoots up 90 feet in one week!

     Why is that?

     Because the bamboo is so tall and slender, it needs to have a very strong root system to get water and nutrients that high. Its extensive root system also keeps the bamboo from being uprooted in a storm.
​
     For the first five years, nothing seems to be happening.  But, in reality, those early years are the most important years in the life of the bamboo. 

     When a tree has a root system that goes deep into the soil, it draws nourishment from depths that trees with shallow roots never experience. A tree whose roots go deep is more fruitful, has a more lush foliage, and stronger limbs.  

     But, unless you understood this growth pattern of the bamboo, you might become discouraged and assume that there is something wrong with the plant because it isn't growing.

     But it is growing! It's not growing UP, but it is growing DOWN.

     If you continue to grow downward and invest in a strong and deep root system, there will come a time when upward growth will take place--often rapidly and dramatically.

     Think of how God worked in the lives of His servants in scripture and you'll see how often this Principle of the Bamboo applies:
  • MOSES spent 40 years in obscurity in the "backside of the desert," growing downward before God used Him to deliver His people. 
  • PAUL the apostle, following his dramatic conversion, was not thrust into the limelight of Christian stardom. No TV interviews. No speaking conferences. No evangelism crusades. Paul spent at least three years in virtual obscurity in the desert of Arabia (possibly at Mount Sinai), where God revealed to him the gospel of grace.
  • JESUS, Himself,  spent 30 years in obscurity in a small backwater town in Galilee being prepared by His Father and the Holy Spirit for His ministry of redeeming the human race. 
If you have been waiting for God to answer your prayer, to give you the desire of your heart or to release a greater measure of your ministry, don't lose heart. And don't give up. Remember the Lesson of the Bamboo Tree:

     The Key to Growing Up
          is Often Found by Growing Down!



11 Comments
Cregg Garrett
3/22/2019 08:04:59 pm

What a great concept on the Bamboo Tree. Thanks for helping us understand that growing is about being humble. When that happens God can speak to our open heart and we are much better for it. Please keep them coming. Thanks for your continuance in sharing the wisdom God has given you. Your balcony fan with the deepest gratitude. Cregg

Reply
Edward Banghart
3/24/2019 02:25:28 am

I appreciate your kind words Cregg. It's always encouraging to hear how God uses the "foolishness of preaching" to touch lives and help people grow in their walk with Christ. ED

Reply
Leon deVose link
3/24/2019 04:22:48 pm

Thanks again for the insightful words today. And thank you for reminding you of your blog.

Today's message by Eric Temple, the message a few weeks ago by Pastor Larry, and your conversation today are all timely for me.

I cannot believe that all of the years that I have known you that we share so much as to our Newark pedigree and matriculation at the Bended Knee School Open Bible campus of the Lord's Theological Seminary.

Reply
Ed Banghart
3/26/2019 04:05:35 pm

It was good to talk with you, and to reminisce about our common heritage in growing up in Newark. And it was good to hear about what God has been doing in your life. Be encouraged.

"Don't lose heart and become discouraged, but keep on doing what you know to be right and in God's perfect time you will reap an abundant harvest. So then, as, occasion and opportunity open up to you, do all the good you can to all the people you can. Be mindful to be a blessing" (Galatians 6:9, PEP--Pastor Ed's Paraphrase).

Reply
Cregg Garrett
3/24/2019 05:56:15 pm

By mistake I hit the unsubscribe button so just registering again. Please keep the insights coming

Reply
Mhelie link
6/3/2021 03:01:26 am

Excellent and inspiring article. thank you for sharing.

Reply
Julie
8/25/2021 07:14:24 am

GOD BLESS YOU MAN OF GOD,
THE SPIRIT WOKE ME AT 4AM THIS MORNING & GAVE ME A VISION OF SOMETHING INVOLVING BAMBOO
& I JUST HAPPENED TO FIND THIS
ONLINE WHILE RESEARCHING, IT HAS REALLY INSPIRED ME & GAVE ME CONFIRMATION, THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU, MY THE LORD CONTINUE GIVING YOU KEYS TO EVERY DOOR.

Reply
Neng Sin link
6/14/2022 11:08:17 am

Dear Ps ED, thanks for this meaningful quote, how true it is. May I quote you in my blog? NS Kim

Reply
Promise link
10/12/2022 10:47:48 pm

Thank you so much sir for this insightful article.
The Lord kept ministering to me to research on the story of the Bamboo Tree.

My understanding of downward growth differs now, I know better why I need to trust God more and persevere.

God bless you sir!

Reply
Matthew Pope Jr. link
10/18/2022 04:55:00 pm

Similar common debate tend identify. Customer field dog process between future.
Race page anything outside interesting allow. Magazine myself career himself culture crime believe every.

Reply
Imelda Bojo
4/19/2023 10:15:14 pm

Thank you so much to sharing this wonderful messages.
Searching about bamboo story and found out this morning a very beautiful and encouraging story how GOD used us.
Please keep sending a messages. It’s really helpful to others
Thank you and God bless 🙏

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Founding Pastor of Montclair Community Church.  Internationally unknown author and speaker.

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Categories

    All
    Biblical Studies
    Christian Life

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About
  • Blog