How Great He Was, Is, and Is to Come

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

consider all the works thy hands hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed

From the vastness of the cosmos to the crack of thunder overhead, the majesty of God is written across every square inch of creation. The psalmist declared, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). In this opening verse, we are reminded that the power and presence of God are not just abstract ideas—they are etched into the night sky, roaring in the storm, and echoing in every corner of the universe. In a world that increasingly worships creation while rejecting the Creator, this hymn calls us back to awe, back to reverence, and back to the reality that everything we see is not an accident—it’s a testimony.

Prophetically, creation itself is groaning, awaiting redemption (Romans 8:22). The chaos in nature today is not just environmental—it's eschatological. It points to a coming restoration, when Christ returns and sets all things right. But even now, in the waiting, creation still sings of His greatness.

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When through the woods and forest glades I wander,

and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

There’s a peaceful intimacy in these lines—a quiet communion with the Creator through the creation. It reminds us that even the still moments are sacred. Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16), showing us that God's presence is not confined to buildings, stages, or pulpits—it’s found in the hush of the forest and the rush of a mountain stream.

Yet, there’s a warning, too. As beautiful as this world is, it’s passing away (1 John 2:17). The earth groans because something is broken. But for now, the gentle breeze still whispers His love, and the songbirds still echo His praise. Nature is a preview of paradise—a shadow of what once was and a foreshadowing of what is to come when Jesus reigns in His millennial kingdom and the curse is lifted (Isaiah 11:6–9).

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And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,

sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

that on the cross my burden gladly bearing

he bled and died to take away my sin

This is the heart of the Gospel—and the heart of this hymn. The Creator stepped into creation. The King put on rags. The Judge bore the judgment. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” No amount of awe at the stars or the mountains could save us—only the blood of the Lamb.

It’s easy to admire God’s power in nature, but harder to grasp His love on the cross. And yet, that’s where we truly see how great He is. Jesus didn't just suffer physically—He bore the full weight of sin, wrath, and separation so we wouldn't have to. Prophecy pointed to His coming (Isaiah 53), and the cross fulfilled it in brutal, beautiful precision. The same God who holds the galaxies is the God who held the nails.

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(REFRAIN) When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

and there proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

The refrain takes us beyond the now and points to the not-yet. It’s the ultimate crescendo—not just of the hymn, but of history. The same Jesus who ascended into heaven will return in power and glory (Acts 1:11). The Rapture will come “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), and joy will erupt from every heart redeemed by grace.

This is not poetic fantasy—it’s a prophetic promise. When Christ returns for His bride, there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more war. Just worship. Bowing in adoration will not be a choice—it will be the only possible response to His glory. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). But for those who are His, that moment will be joy—not judgment.

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This is the echo of a hymn that refuses to fade.

In a world drunk on self-worship and filled with blasphemous ideologies, How Great Thou Art is a battle cry for the remnant. It is a declaration that creation points to a Creator, that the cross was enough, and that Christ is coming at any moment. Until that day, let our lives be the echo: “My God, how great Thou art.”

How Great Thou Art - Carl Boberg