All are
mortal. All are fallible. In truth, no one deserves our ultimate
praise, no one other than THE ONE
TRUE AND LIVING GOD.
King Canute was the
Danish ruler of England. The members of his court constantly offered him
flattery. “Your highness, you are the
greatest man that has ever lived. You are the most powerful king of
all. There is nothing you cannot do; nothing and no one in this world would
dare disobey you.”
However, the king
was a very wise man, and he grew increasingly tired of this foolish and empty rhetoric. One day as he walked alone by the seashore,
King Canute decided to teach them all an important lesson.
“So you say I am the
greatest man in the world?” he inquired of them.
“Oh king,” they
cried out, “there never has been anyone anywhere as mighty as you, and there
will never be anyone nearly so great, ever again!”
“And you say all
things obey me?” Canute asked.
“Yes sire,” they
responded, “the world bows before you and gives you glory and honor.”
“I see,” the king
answered. “In that case, bring my chair and place it down by the shore.”
The servants
scrambled to carry Canute’s royal chair quickly over the sands. At his direction they placed it at the
water’s edge. The King sat down and looked out over the ocean. “I notice
the tide is now coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the
command?”
“Give the order, oh
great king, and it will obey,” cried his entourage.
“Sea,” ordered
Canute, “I command you to come no farther! Do not dare touch my feet!”
After a moment, and
a wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.
“How dare you!”
Canute shouted. “Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to
retreat before me, and now you must obey! Get back!”
In came another wave
lapping at the king’s feet. Canute remained on his throne all morning,
commanding the waves to stop. Yet they came in anyway, until the seat of
the throne was covered with water.
Finally, King Canute
turned to his entourage and said, “It seems that I do not have quite as much
power as you would have me believe. Perhaps now you will remember there
is only ONE KING who is all-powerful, and it is HE who rules over the land and
sea. He alone holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. From now
on, I suggest you reserve all of your praises for Him!”
Canute was a wise
king indeed! I imagine that he was familiar with John’s vision of
everlasting worship before the throne of Almighty God. “And after these
things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia;
Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.” (Revelation
19:1)
This heavenly scene
reminds me of a praise chorus written by Eva Lena Hellmark:
You deserve the
glory…and the honor…
Lord, we lift our hands in worship
As we praise Your Holy Name.
Lord, we lift our hands in worship
As we praise Your Holy Name.
You deserve the
glory…and the honor…
Lord, we lift our hands in worship
As we praise Your Holy Name.
Lord, we lift our hands in worship
As we praise Your Holy Name.
For You are great…
You do miracles so great…
There is no one else like You…
There is no one else like You.
You do miracles so great…
There is no one else like You…
There is no one else like You.
And, in light of
that, all we can say is “Amen! Amen! Amen!”
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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