By God's grace and guidance, we recently embarked on our first
official family road trip, logging nearly 2000 miles. We sang and danced and
snacked and slept and marveled at the works of God's hand as the numbers on the
odometer ticked along. The beauty of traveling by car is the ability to see the
terrain up close and admire the landscape God so intricately designed.
With nothing but stretches of open
road, it is hard not to worship. Especially when accompanied with sleeping children and blue skies
interlaced with clouds and rolling hills and silence and quieting, praise and awe cannot help but fill the soul.
A change in scenery allows you to
worship God in different ways. Seeing his creation shows you things about God
you never imagined or could have.
The way he thought about the most
intricate of things. How small we really are. How it all points to the
bigger picture. How he knows each person in each car that passes on the road and resides in each town. How they were created to do great things.
How there is more to life than us. Than
pleasing our desires and fulfilling our needs.
There's worship and praise and thanksgiving
and standing in wonder at the work of God's hand. At the grains of sand at the
beach and the pokey parts of a cactus and the green of the leaves on a tree.
And how everything works together to fill the necessities of all creatures on
the earth.
It's knowing that just as God
created the most beautiful of things for our eyes to glance on and enjoy, that
he made us in this same way but even more so. With more purpose and meaning.
For we were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and were made to rule over
the land and everything in it (Genesis 1:26). We were given a hope and future (Jeremiah
29:11). We were made for good works (Ephesians 2:10) and have eternity written
on our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). All of
which is incomprehensible.
And in our short time here, we are
made to be imitators of Christ. To draw others nearer to him. To embrace each
day with open hands and rejoice in it.
God
You Reign by Lincoln Brewster
fits well here. Have a listen, along with some worship.
Your glory shines, you teach the sun
When to bring a new day
Creation sings, God, Your reign
Praying that you would have eyes to see God in the creation around you. On your drive to work today or to the grocery store or to school. That you would seek out the works of his hands that he put there for you to enjoy on this very day. Praying that it would not be taken for granted but that you would enjoy it, as it too is fading away. Praying that you would praise him because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Here's to mountains and hills and open skies.