Time in God’s Creation

Walking up the trail listening to the sound of my boots hitting the ground, focusing on trying to
remain as quiet as I can, and keeping my senses heightened for any other critters that may be wandering along in the same area that I am in. Feeling my heart beating faster as I continue to climb, knowing I should have trained more in the off season, is a familiar thought, and I always seem to be so surprisedvthat there is so little air at this altitude even though I do it every year and I should know by now. As the sun begins to slowly peak over the mountains, and light begins to fill the trees, you have a calming sense that the forest is slowly waking up around you. There is something so distinct about the crisp cool morning air, in early fall, that seems to awaken a new inner self that finds a sense of peace and comfort in being here. As I reach my destination, the top of a ridgeline, high above the valley below, with multiple springs cutting through the mountains, deepening the different drainages that make up a collection of mostly lodge pole pines, and a few clusters of aspen groves scattered in different pockets, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment. I take my pack off, sit down to catch my breath, get a drink of water, and rifle through my top pack for a Cliff bar, which may or may not be from last year.

I take a moment to gaze over the valley below and the surrounding vast mountain ranges in the
distance. It seems like you are on top of the world up here. I try and take a moment to sit and take in all the beauty around me and what a blessing it is to be here and be able to witness such an example of God’s love for His children. Viewing all of God’s creation with its complexity, and at the same time simplicity is what continues to grow my faith and humility. The Apostle Paul, in speaking to the Roman church in Romans 1:19-20 gives a great defense as to why no one should question the existence of God.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his
invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, [a]  in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
You want proof? Look around you, better yet you want to understand the character of God look
at his creation. For every creation will always have the fingerprints of the creator left on it. Only the
the pure eternal power of God could create such a masterpiece. We as his creation are included in that as well, have you sat and thought about how the eye in the human body works or the development of a baby in the womb. All evidence that continues to point to God.

Now have you sat and pondered the reality that he has not only made all of this for his glory, but
also for you and me. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and then gave Man
dominion over everything, from the birds of the sky to the fish of the sea to everything crawling on the land. God made it, it was good and then God blessed us and gave it to us to enjoy multiple and thrive in such a beautiful creation.

 Genesis 1:26-31 paints the picture for us. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.  And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

In God’s perfect love he has built an amazing world for his children to live in. In today’s society
we are so caught up in our cell phones, technology, social media, and TV that we often get distracted by the things that are manmade and self-serving we forget to focus on what God has made. How easy is it to sit on the couch and shut your brain off to get lost in scrolling through pictures and videos, or binge watch Netflix? I encourage you to try and take time this week to separate yourself from your cell phone, go outside. You do not have to be an experienced outdoorsman, camper, hiker, hunter, or fisherman to enjoy the essence of God’s creation. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, go to the park and sit on a bench and listen to the sounds that surround you. Sit on your back porch and watch the sun set, wake up early in the morning and watch the sun rise. Find that quiet place, pray, and read your bible. Not only are there physical health benefits to this but there are soul gratifying eternal benefits as well. In God’s wisdom I believe it was his design to have all of this in front of us as a reminder and a way we can draw
back from the stresses of work and life to fall into his goodness. I leave you with this last passage from the Apostle Paul as a reminder of God’s love for his children and goodness in all things, Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Have a great rest of your week, stay strong in the word and in God. Know that I love you and God loves you more.