Expectations. We all have them. Sometimes they are met and we rejoice. However, many times we are disappointed when the expectation is not met, completely ignored, or disregarded. Then, we are emotionally distraught because we feel abandoned, cheated or unfulfilled.
When we went out west on vacation, I had certain expectations, and all of them were met and exceeded. The scenery was jaw-dropping. The people were incredibly friendly. The events we had lined up to do surpassed their claims. We had doubts about one expectation, however.
We went through several National Parks where the brochures said there would be a plethora of wild animals for us to see, and we saw NONE. Even in areas that had flashing “Watch for Bison” signs, no bison, chipmunks or squirrels were in sight. At one point, I suggested to Bill that we purchase a statue of a bison, put in way out in a field, and then the next day we could drive by and take a picture …
The last day in Yellowstone National Park we did see bison, and lots of them. Then we saw a bison family that walked along with us through the woods.
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Bison family walking through trees in Yellowstone National Park.
I was ecstatic – my expectation for seeing bison out west was fulfilled. Then, when we went to Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park, we saw hundreds of them.
Part of one of the herds of bison in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park.
But, the best was yet to come … as we were leaving the Park, we saw “our” family of bison, relaxing and laying in the grass alongside the roadway.
“Our” family of bison, resting along the roadside as we were leaving the National Park.
What a joy. My expectation for seeing bison was, truly, surpassed when we saw these beasts relaxing, although the “daddy” was surely standing guard and would not have hesitated to attack if we had posed any threat.
We have expectations about a great many things, not just wild animals on vacation. When they are met we are happy, and when they are ignored we are saddened and disappointed.
Scripture says that we are made in God’s image.
“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.”
Genesis 1:26-27
We know, of course, that at some point after creation, sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instruction. So, while we no longer walk with God in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), we still were made in the image of God and the Christian will bear God’s image through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul said this about Jesus:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
Colossians 1:15
In the Book of Romans we read:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.”
Romans 8:28-30
So, what does God expect of those who bear His image in the world? My husband created this listing of expectations for his Sunday School Class. I present them here for your consideration, and with his approval:
God expects a man to FEAR HIM AND OBEY HIM. Ecclesiastes 12:13
God expects a man to PLACE HIS TRUST IN HIM. Psalm 3:5
God expects a man to LOVE HIM. 1 John 4:19
God expects a man to BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WILL. Revelation 22:14
God expects a man to DESIRE HIM. Psalm 27:4
God expects a man’s EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION. Matthew 4:10
God expects a man’s PRAISE AND DEVOTION. Psalm 100:4
God expects a man to WORSHIP HIM. John 4:21-24
God expects a man to be HIS SERVANT. Romans 6:16-18, 22
God expects a man’s PRAYERS TO BE ADDRESSED TO HIM. Matthew 6:9
In short, God has told us exactly what He expects from us:
He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
So, how do you stack up against what God expects from you? Thankfully, our God is loving and merciful, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance before Him. (2 Peter 3:9) So, if you are disappointing God in His expectations, repent and turn to Him for support and strength to do that which He desires.
Expectations can be met through prayer, devotion and dedication to seek the face of the Lord in all things. As you do these things, you will find that you experience joy and peace that had bypassed you previously. Love God and follow His commandments and you will experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to you.
Blessings as you walk with the Lord this day.
Father, forgive me when I have missed your expectations of my life and service to You. Help me to look to You in all things and to praise You with a heart of gratitude. I praise Your Holy Name, through Jesus Christ my Lord.
There are many things that come to an end during our life on this whirling planet.
Babies wearing diapers. Many a mother thinks that day will never ever, ever, ever come, but it does (unless something horrific intervenes).
The end of the work day. Again, there are times that even that seems to be far off in the distant future if the assignment you are working on is difficult or unbelievably boring. But even that day does, in fact end, at the appropriate time.
One thing that occurs like clockwork (please pardon the pun) is the ending of the day.
Driving westbound on Interstate 40
Heading west on I-40, we can see the sun setting behind the mountains with the beautiful colors lighting up the evening sky. This was the sunset one evening when we visited the family in Virginia.
There are times that God’s creation is simply too beautiful to describe. Pictures certainly do not do justice to the glory that shines out from God’s world.
Setting sun with clouds
We know that God created the sun and the moon – it says so in Genesis:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. … And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night–and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:1, 14-19
The Psalmist says it this way:
“Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.”
Psalm 74:16
Ocean with far distant shore
In our world of technology and scientific data, we have analyzed, digitized, and categorized the sun, the clouds, the atmosphere, the solar flares, and all kinds of things that I don’t even know. We have studied and drawn, recorded and photographed the sun in our effort to understand it, and we have gone a long way from our forebears who pointed and said “bright!”
But in my little corner of the world, at sunset, I look in the sky and see the hand of my Father, painting a particularly beautiful picture for me to see as I head into the evening hours of the day.
Many are so much more scientific and analytical than I am. They can explain so much about things of nature and of our world. It is my prayer that we all would stop and look at what God has given us, cherish the view, lock the mental picture into our minds, and then thank Him for His unfathomable love and mercy.
When the day is over and the sun is running its course to the other side of the world, they are awaking to the warmth of its rays. “Good evening” to you is “Good morning” to someone else!
The end, thus, is really also a beginning!
I doubt that the little caterpillar in this picture ever would think that he would be transformed into a beautiful butterfly.
The truth of the matter is, however, that the caterpillar must get into his cocoon and shed the body that had restricted him so that the transformation can take place. Rather than crawling along in the dirt, the butterfly can soar incredible distances, looking down on the land that he used to call home. The caterpillar’s end was also its beginning.
For us, when we are relieved of our mortal shell, our physical body, we will be transformed into our eternal bodies, glorious and without blemish.
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
Billy Graham said this in the years prior to his death:
Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. don’t you believe a word of it. i shall be more alive than i am now. i will just have changed my address. i will have gone into the presence of God.
The end is not really the end … rather, what we think of as the end is actually just the beginning.
Father, I thank You for giving us the example of nature in Your marvelous creation. The setting of the sun where I live is the end of the day, but it is the beginning of a new day elsewhere on this whirling globe. The “death” of the caterpillar is just the transforming work so that it can be a butterfly. Our physical death is simply the shedding off of our mortal bodies into the eternal body that You have prepared for us. Thank You for Your steadfast love and for calling Your children to come to You from every corner of the earth.
When the dark days of late autumn and winter arrive, it is hard to find color in the world. It seems that everything comes in shades of gray. So I like to remember the beauty of the flowers of the summer and early autumn.
Jefferson Vineyard and Gardens, Charlottesville, Virginia
Scripture tells us of the creation story, specifically on the third day God created the plants and vegetation of our earth.
“And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.”
Genesis 1:11-13 ESV
God saw the vegetation, flowers, plants and trees and saw that “it was good”!
Gardens at Jefferson Vineyards, Charlottesville, Virginia
In fact, God was so pleased with His created nature that when He gave the directions for construction of the tabernacle by His people in the wilderness, He specifically included flowers to be depicted in the furnishings.
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.”
Exodus 25:31 ESV
Gardens at Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville, Virginia
Can you imagine the beauty of the golden lampstand shaped as flowers for the use in the tabernacle? Can you imagine what it looked like when the sun shined and the gold reflected light as it glittered in the stark contrast to the wilderness surrounding the people?
This same motif was to be followed in the house of the Lord that King Solomon was instructed to build.
“The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen. … Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms.”
1 Kings 6:18, 29 ESV
Can you imagine the beauty of trees and flowers carved into the cedar?
Giant Sunflowers in Jefferson Vineyard and Gardens, Charlottesville, Virginia
“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”
Psalm 96:1-6 ESV
Our God is the One who created the universe and He included in our world the beauty of a wide diversity of flowers and vegetation of all kinds. Praise His holy name for the beauty of His creation for the children of men.
Father, I praise Your name for Your marvelous work in creation. Thank You for the beauty around us. May I give You honor and glory for this is due You because You and You alone are God.
“Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.“
Psalm 33:8 KJV
There are times in our lives that we encounter something that is just too wonderful to fully appreciate at the time.
Consider some of the places that God has provided us on the planet – places that exhibit His power, beauty, majesty, omnipotence, just to name a few of His attributes that are represented in His created order.
Yosemite overlook at King’s Canyon
Towering mountains. “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” – Psalm 90:2 ESV
Consider the thundering waterfalls. “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.” Psalm 42:7 ESV
Multnomah Waterfalls, Oregon
Consider beauty and destruction combined, such as with volcanoes. When we were on Maui, in Hawaii, we traveled to the crater of Haleakala and watched the sun come up over the horizon. The crest of the volcano is over 10,000 feet high, so it was windy and the clouds were constantly changing as they flew over and passed the crater. While volcanoes can be deadly and can cause widespread destruction, they also provide silent witness to the power of God’s creative hand and the beauty of His majesty.
Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, Sunrise over the crater.
While God’s creation is majestic in scope, it is also awesome in its beautiful detail.
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” – Luke 12:27-28 ESV
Or, consider the birth of a child – we know the biological process that takes place. Some of us even know all the details of human anatomy and physiology that work together in the creation of that little one you hold in your arms. But, just describing the biological process of childbirth does not even touch the full impact of the birth of a little baby. The joy that the child brings to the parents; the marvel in the expression of the young sibling who now is the older child; the tears in the grandparents’ eyes as they look at the personification of their living heritage.
The infant is comforted by grandparents who just want to look adoringly at the child’s face!
I am not so Pollyanna to think that this is the lot granted to each child born on this planet – far from it. Some children are born into a house that is far less than supportive and can even be abusive. But Scripture tells us that mankind was created in the image of God.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 ESV
Each person, even the smallest infant, is a creation of God the Almighty Creator and Sustainer who imprints His image onto the heart and soul of each one. The reason we cannot see God’s image in others is not because of a problem with the image of God, but rather it is a problem that we have because of Adam’s fall and the interjection of sin into the world.
Scripture tells us of God’s majesty like this:
“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.”
Psalm 65:5-8 ESV
What a marvelous God we serve. What a powerful and majestic God we serve. What a loving God we serve.
“But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”
Habakkuk 2:20 KJV
Today take the time to contemplate (or ruminate) on being silent before God. Think about His majesty and glory. Think about His intimate love for you and of the salvation that He has provided. Read the love letter that He has given us, His Word, the Holy Bible. Then, love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Matthew 22:37.
Father, I thank You for showing us Your power, beauty and majesty through the natural creation you spoke into existence. I thank You for giving us Your Word and Your Spirit. that tells us what you want us to do, how we should live in Christ, and what your Spirit
One of the things I love to do while we are camping is to sit outside in the evening/night and listen to the sounds of nature while gazing up into the heavens. Viewing the stars, which are hidden by the city’s lights at home, is an incredible privilege. Watching the sun set in the earth’s inexorable travel around it is mesmerizing to me. Each second of descent below the horizon brings new colors and new beauty.
Sunset over Annandale, Virginia
Scripture exhorts us to praise the Lord, In fact, it further exhorts even creation to praise God.
“Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!”
Psalm 148:3 ESV
Sunrise at Sea
“The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.”
Ecclesiastes 1:5 ESV
Sunset along Redondo Beach, California
“And God made the two great lights–the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night–and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:16-19 ESV
Super Moon in Mississippi.
Next time you are outside, whether at sunrise, daylight, sunset or night, look at the heavens and praise the Lord for His glorious graciousness in giving us our beautiful world.
Here is the song “For the Beauty of the Earth” as composed by John Rutter and recorded on the album Gloria – the Sacred Music of John Rutter. Let the beautiful tones of the hymn embrace you as you consider the glorious beauty of God’s creation.
“The fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
Psalm 111:10 NASB
Father, thank You for making Your creation so incredibly beautiful in its majesty as well as in its finite detail. I pray that my life would reflect the love of my Savior as the moon reflects the sun. And may I praise Your holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s goodness is expressed in the very first reference to God in Scripture. In Genesis 1 we read of the creation done by God simply at the power of His words.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. An God saw that the light was good.
Genesis 1:3-4. This continued through creation and then, in verses 26-27, 31 we read:
“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 saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
Have you ever worked hard to create something and then looked at it and saw the imperfections, the mistakes, the “oops” that no one else would see, and then say to yourself, “it’s nice” or “it’s fairly good” or “not bad for a first attempt”.
That’s not what happened in Genesis 1 – God created the world and all there is in it and when the Triune God was done on the sixth day, He looked at his completed creation and said not only that each of the component parts were good, He declared that “it was VERY GOOD” and it included mankind, created in His image, for fellowship and relationship with Him. God is Good and we were created in His image.
Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
Psalm 31:19-20
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
2 Chronicles 16:9
God’s goodness is shown in His long-suffering, forbearance and slowness to anger that continues toward persons who have persisted in sinning.
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…
Exodus 34:6
Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalm 78:38
Theologian J. I. Packer says that the supreme expression of God’s goodness is His amazing grace and inexpressible love that is evidenced by His saving sinners, who deserve only condemnation, at the tremendous cost of Christ’s death on Calvary.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
God’s goodness includes His glorious kindness and generosity that touches all His creatures.
In his book Knowing God, J. I. Packer calls Psalm 107 the classical exposition of God’s goodness. The psalmist begins with the call to give thanks for God’s goodness.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble. Vs. 1-2
The psalmist then identifies four problems from which God has given aid to Israel.
God redeems those who are helpless from their enemies;
God delivers from “darkness and the shadow of death” – Hallelujah –notably reference in the text is even made that this was brought about because of the people’s rebellion against God and yet he delivered anyway;
God provided healing for diseases that He had brought upon the people to discipline the “fools” who disregarded him; and
God protected those who traveled by sea when storms arose that would have sunk their ship but He intervened and stilled the storm.
Looking at the psalm, each of these situations and rescues concludes with the same refrain:
“Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”
Psalm 107 is not the only place where we are told to sing God’s praises for His goodness in creation and the history of His people.
In Psalm 136 we find verses that sing of God’s goodness with each verse ending with the refrain “for His steadfast love endures forever.” Verse 1 begins the psalm with “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” and the last verse commands that we “Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
So we know God is Good … and we know that we are not good apart from Jesus. So, what are we to do?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We are to do works that are good so that we give glory to God. We reflect His glory and tell of His goodness when we magnify His great name before others. That is our purpose in goodness before men.
How does this apply to my daily life?
So, what good works do we do? How do we let our light shine before men? How do we give glory to God?
There are multitudes of ways that we can perform good works through the Holy Spirit provided through Jesus Christ to us. Here, however, we will be looking at 1) generosity and 2) appreciation of excellence and beauty.
Regarding Generosity —
Our doing good freely should be done liberally and bountifully. We are not to be skimpy givers, but we are to be open-hearted and open-handed. See 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11. In verse 6, Paul reminds the Corinthians that if they sow sparingly, they will reap sparingly; and conversely, if they sow bountifully, they will reap bountifully.
We will have a desire for the good will of others. This is an imitation of the love and grace of God and of the love of Christ which desires the good of men. See Luke 2:14.
We show our willingness to do good to other simply by doing it! Where there is power to act, the act will always follow the will. Scripture speaks of doing good as the evidence of love. I John 3: 18-19.
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Hereby we know that we are of the truth.”
We will seek opportunity to do good to the soul and body of others. Our benevolence should be universal, constant, free, habitual andaccording to our opportunities and ability, as we follow the commands of God. To freely do good to others is to do to them as we would have them do to us, that is the enactment of “the Golden Rule.” To freely do good to others encourages us to remember how kind God and Christ have been to us and how much we have received from them, every moment of every day. 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Regarding appreciation of what is good, true and beautiful:
Dr. R. C. Sproul says “One thing that comes with the fruit of goodness is a new appreciation for what is good, true and beautiful.”
We have already spoken of God’s beautiful creation. In Exodus 28:2 God tells the people how to make Aaron’s garments:
“And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty”.
Note that Aaron’s garments were to reflect God’s glory and beauty! We know the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem were pinnacles of beauty and the directions for their building did not come from designers or architects but directly from God.
Another example of the appreciation of beauty as coming from the Goodness of our Creator God is the work of the composer Johan Sebastian Bach.
Bach composed his music as an apologetic for the existence of God. Pointing to the order of creation and the beauty therein, Bach wanted his music to point to the existence of God when, during the period known as the Enlightenment, people were arguing that man was the be all and end all and there was no need for God anymore. Although born in 1685 and living only until 1750, Bach’s witness for God is far from silent in our own day!
Bach himself said:
“Music’s only purpose should be the glory of God and the recreation of the human spirit.”
Music was given to glorify God in heaven and to edify men and women on earth. It wasn’t to make lots of money or to feed the musician’s ego or to be famous. Music was about blessing the Lord and blessing others.
Listen to “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” as composed by J. S. Bach and as performed by the Brentwood Jazz Quartet.
But Bach’s music goes far beyond merely reflecting God’s orderly creation – it contains the message of the Gospel when used by the Holy Spirit.
C. S. Lewis opined that the world does not need more Christian literature – it needs more Christians writing good literature or more Christians composing good works of music or of art. When we produce art that is good; art that reflects a biblical world view, its richness will endure through the ages.
Does your experience with the Fruit of the Spirit of Goodness give you a new appreciation for the good, true and beautiful?
God is Good
His goodness underlies his love, his redemptive acts and his securing of our eternal blessings.
His goodness is evidenced in creation, and in truth and all things beautiful.
May we give our best to the Lord and may we do good for Him, whether it be in acts of benevolence for others or in writing or composing … whatever we do, may it be to the Glory of God for He alone is Good and his Goodness extends to all generations.
Take some time this week to listen to some beautiful music or look at some beautiful scenery and let your Spirit soar as you glorify your God in meditation. Do some good act of benevolence for someone anonymously and let the Spirit work His will in both the recipient and you, the giver. Daily, praise the Lord, for He is Good.
Blessings to you and I pray that you will continue to walk with me as we learn about the fruit of the Holy Spirit and as we mature in our transformation into Christian believers who speak and act as Jesus did and who share in the passions that Jesus had for the lost sheep and for the worship of His Father, the Almighty God.
Several years ago, an experience and a news story prompted me to start thinking. First, the experience. This was an incredible trip out West where my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the Yosemite National Park, Giant Sequoia National Park and King’s Canyon.
Kings Canyon National Park.
The scenery was jaw‐dropping.
We walked 1/2 mile to an overlook and emerged out from the wooded mountainside to see this incredible vista.
For this story though, the majesty of the scenery takes a back seat to the Giant Sequoia Trees. These trees are beautiful and to say they are tall would be an insult … they are huge … no, they are gargantuan!
Giant Sequoia Trees in the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park. So tall that their branches begin at a height the other trees can only begin to reach.
While no one really knows how old the trees are, the National Park Service says that it is estimated that the Giant Sequoia Trees are between 1800 and 2700 years old. Some of the trees have even been given names of states, presidents and influential people in our country’s history.
In 2002 the National Park Service measured the trees and found, for example, that the tree named General Sherman is 274 feet in height and 102 feet in circumference. The tree named General Grant is 268 feet tall and 107 feet in circumference. The tree named Washington was 254 feet high and 101 feet in circumference.
Now to the news story. The headline was something like “17 years in the making” [not an exact quote]. The article discussed the upcoming, expected cicada invasion.
Cicada
Now, if you don’t know what a periodical cicada is, you might not think this is a big deal, but the word “invasion” might tip you off to the significance of this event. Those of us who have experienced these bugs in person know that they are hard to ignore. [How do you miss tens of millions of grasshopper‐looking, flying, chirping insects whose collective sounds, magnified by the sheer incredible number of them, sounds like a very loud hum? That’s not really a question that needs an answer!]
I know that as a species, the cicadas have been around for millennia. While I do not do this (yuck), many people in our world eat cicadas as a source of protein and calcium (I shiver as I write this!). Further, records show that they were eaten in Ancient Greece, China, Malaysia, Burma, and Latin America. (By the way, female cicadas are considered to be meatier than their male counterparts! Who knew?) And cicada shells are not uncommonly used in Chinese traditional medicines. (Shiver!)
The periodical cicada’s life can be summarized by the statement that it lives underground sucking on tree roots for 17 years, emerges and mates for 4 to 6 weeks and then dies … all of the cicadas doing this at essentially the same time. The female lays her eggs in tree limbs from which, after hatching, the future cicada drops to the ground, and burrows into the dirt where, during the next 17 years it matures and then emerges to do this ritual all over again.
What do the cicadas have to do with me, other than that I can’t stand the sight, sound or thought of gazillions of cicadas dive‐bombing me when I am outside? In short, they don’t have much to do with me at all, personally. They are outside and I am inside when they are around!
But, when I considered the comparative difference between the giant sequoia trees and the cicadas, I was prompted to think about all of God’s creation, including me. Although the species has survived for millennia, why are these insects so short‐lived while the Giant Sequoia Trees have grown and survived for over 15 centuries — and where do I fit in?
God created all of us, you and me as well as the sequoia and cicadas and we each have our own specific God‐given role in this world. I am much more like the cicada than the sequoia in terms of life‐span. If I survive to 100 it will be a miracle, but the sequoia tree is not even out of its proverbial diapers at that point in time; whereas the cicada will have had almost 6 generations when I reach 100 years of age.
In the book of Genesis, we read:
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.”
Genesis 1:26-28.
On the basis of creation’s history in Genesis, I can affirmatively assert that I am different, unique, separate, from the sequoia and cicada because God said so. Mankind is viewed by God as being the paramount creature in the creation story — we were created in God’s image, something that does not apply to any other creature. And, God said that we are to have dominion over all the rest of creation, because that is how God ordained it to be.
Of course, we know that Adam sinned and we are not in the same state of grace that applied at the time of creation. But the sin of humankind does not reduce or eliminate the sovereignty of God.
The Psalmist says that we are to measure our days because they are numbered by God. (Psalm 39:4‐5) God’s sovereignty even extends to His knowledge of how long each of us will live. Each of us has a specific purpose that God has ordained, and we will only find our true happiness, comfort and peace in God when we fulfill that purpose.
We are told in Scripture that He has given His Son’s life as an atoning sacrifice for us … not for the cicadas or sequoia. We can be assured that we are of infinitely more value to God than either the Giant Sequoia Tree or the cicada because, as a result of His grace and Christ’s death and resurrection, God has made a way for believers in Christ to be with Him for eternity!
Praise Him. And may I use the days that He has granted to me for His glory.
Father, I praise You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, your Son and my Savior. I praise You for the gift of life and for your sustaining presence, grace and mercy towards us. I pray that You would conform me to the image of your Son so that I would glorify You.
Scripture tells us at the very beginning of Genesis that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. The six days of creation are all itemized in Chapter 1 of Genesis.
Light — and the light was good.
Dry land and the seas– and God saw that it was good.
Colorado mountains, where earth and sky collide.Oregon ocean waves and beach.
Vegetation, plants and trees – and God saw that it was good.
Yosemite Giant Sequoia Trees
Lights in the heavens – and God saw that it was good.
Super Moon in Mississippi.
All creatures that move, in the sea and in the air – and God saw that it was good.
Hummingbird getting a drink for nourishment.Florida Spiny Lobster seen in aquarium along Florida’s coastline.
All beasts of the earth and all that creep on the ground – and God saw that it was good.
Caribou with large rack in Denali National Park, Alaska.Pet pooches are under His care too!
Then, in Genesis 1:26-27, and 31, God said:
“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 saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
Everything that He had made was very good. Simply put, God’s creation is good and it gives glory to its Creator.
Looking at the creation of God, it is clear that beauty is an attribute of the Creator God. David speaks of it like this:
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4 [ESV]
God’s desire for beauty is also expressed in Exodus 28:2 where God is telling Moses what garments the priests were to wear when conducting worship before Him even in the wilderness tabernacle.
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. [ESV] (The emphasis is mine)
A review of the construction of the tabernacle is way beyond the scope of this post, but it was clearly a pinnacle of beauty, shining with gold, bronze, silver, precious jewels for the objects to be used in worship, and even for the thread used to create the curtains. The directions were explicit and detailed, and they were dictated by God. Beauty is an attribute of our Creator. Read Exodus Chapters 25 through 40 and see the incredible detail God directed for the construction of His tabernacle. Then remember where it was built — in the wilderness. Clearly, this was not the most beautiful of places, but His tabernacle was to be beautiful because it was to reflect our God and one of His attributes, beauty.
Beautiful music and singing are also part of God’s creation and an expression of His beauty. Way back when David was king, we read that he appointed the priests to sing a song of thanksgiving to God. Read 1 Chronicles 16 aloud, to yourself or anyone else who would listen, and your spirit will be lifted as you, through David’s words so long ago, praise the Lord for His wondrous works. Verse 10 of this chapter directs that we are to “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.”
This past Monday evening, we were blessed to attend a concert sponsored by Ligonier Ministries for the performance of sacred music entitled “Glory to the Holy One.” The concert was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Downtown Nashville at night.
The venue was the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a beautiful building that is dedicated to the symphony.
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville, Tennessee
The building was beautiful with marvelous craftsmanship evident throughout.
Inside the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville, TennesseeThe symphony platform was ready.
Of course, the acoustics were incredible. The choir was extraordinary and the symphony was wonderful. But the music touched your soul, heart and mind.
The choir and symphony getting ready for the music to begin.
Our seats were much closer to the musicians than I anticipated … we were IN the music, not just listening to it! This picture was taken while we were sitting in our chairs.
Superlatives are inadequate to describe the event. The words to the hymns were written by Dr. R.C. Sproul and the music was composed and conducted by Jeff Lippencott. Tears streamed more than once as God’s glory was extolled in music and singing. The words to the hymns were beautiful and poignant, detailing the journey of faith and culminating when we see Jesus face to face. Here is one of the hymns entitled The Secret Place, the words are below the link for your reference.
Excerpt from music on soundtrack of GLORY TO THE HOLY ONE
Who dwells within His most secret place
Is never far from His blessed grace
‘Neath His great shadow all will be well
No better place now for us to dwell
Refrain
The secret place of God Most High
The shadow of our mighty King
The dwelling place where angels cry
Is where our praise will forever ring
Fear not the terror that comes at night
Nor flaming arrows by morning light
His truth is always our sword and shield
Against His power, all foes must yield
Refrain
A thousand fall now at ev’ry side
Ten thousand more may have yet to die
Yet plague and sword can
Ne’er kill the soul
His angels guard us now safe and whole
Refrain
Refuge and fortress for all who trust
No safer pasture for men of dust
‘Neath wings and feathers of Holy Lord
No great comfort can He afford
Refrain
I pray that these words and the music will be a blessing to you this day.
Father, thank you for the gift of music and for the talents of those who can create, compose, sing and perform such magnificent works to your glory and honor. I thank you too for the truth of the words of this hymn. No safer place can find us than when we are in your care, now and forevermore.
We have just experienced an incredible rain deluge in the Carolinas along the Southeastern coast of the United States. According to the National Weather Service, one area of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, received nearly 17 inches of rain in 17 hours, and it was still raining. This rain was not the result of a hurricane or tornado, but the rain came from storm systems that collided and hovered over the area, dumping multiple inches of rain per hour.
Storms are not uncommon – we know that, and we depend on the rain to provide fresh water for the animals, including us, to drink and to provide water to irrigate the vegetation on our world, thereby providing food for us. Indeed, without water, we would be in real trouble, to say the least.
Storm clouds over Lookout Rock, Colorado
Even though storms are an everyday experience, even heading directly into a storm is frightening! The power that the storm unleashes is awesome and can be unnerving. The howling wind and driving rain, along with lightning and thunder, create anxiety if not outright fear in our hearts. Severe storms occur over land and over the seas, their power is fearsome and their scope is immense.
Driving into the rainstorm in Mississippi
Scripture tells us that God created the heavens and the earth, including the ocean or sea.
“And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:9-10 [ESV].
Ocean storm in the distance
In Psalms 24:1-2, David says: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.” [NLT]
Jesus illustrates His power throughout the Gospels of Scripture, but one of the stories that I often think of is recorded in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4. Jesus and his disciples were crossing to the other side of the sea.
Sailboat in the ocean
A violent storm overtook them; in fact, it was so severe that Mark says that the waves beat into the boat so that it was full! Although I am not a marine expert, even I can understand that the situation Mark described was dire! Imagine being in that boat, with the wind howling, the waves churning and the boat filling up with water. The expert fishermen‐now‐turned‐disciples were afraid for their very lives. This was no ordinary storm – it was fierce, they were afraid.
Ocean waves
Jesus, on the other hand, was sleeping – no fear here! When the disciples woke Him in their wide‐eyed fear, Jesus stood up and ordered the sea to be still.
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39. [KJV]
While I would have screamed at the sea, Jesus simply spoke and nature had its marching orders. Jesus essentially said “that’s enough.” He didn’t flail around waving His arms and stomping his feet. He was, at all times, in control. He simply spoke the words and directed the sea to “be still”.
It is encouraging to me to note that the sea’s response was not delayed until the storm naturally dissipated or moved away from the water. Further, the directive was not ignored. Jesus was in control: He spoke and the sea obeyed, immediately.
Rainbow in the sky after the storm on the ocean
Notwithstanding the miracles Jesus had consistently been demonstrating, Scripture says that the disciples asked each other “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” Mark 4:41. [NIV] Of course, the answer to their question is that Jesus is the Creator, the One in whom we have our being, He is the Word made flesh, and He is our Savior.
When I look at the deluge of rain the Carolinas experienced this week, I am reminded that my Savior is Lord over all. He is sovereign, even over storms. I don’t know why this one attacked so fiercely, but I do believe that God is with those affected by the storm, and He will enable, sustain and encourage them if they turn to Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Landscape Rainbow beneath the storm clouds in Alaska
The storms and seas of this world, with their incredible expanse and surpassing power, obey Jesus’ voice. And He, through His Holy Spirit, is with me in every circumstance — His voice that calmed the sea will calm my own heart and fears. Whatever flood overwhelms me, whether it be water, problems, illness, finances or circumstance, my Lord is in control.
Trust Him ‐‐ even when you feel that your boat is sinking! His voice is still powerful! He can still say “Peace, be still.”
Father, I praise Your Name that You sent Jesus to be my Savior. Jesus, I praise Your Name that You obeyed and became the sacrifice for my sin. Holy Spirit, thank You for being with me every step of the way, and for holding me close, even in the fiercest storm.
The Ruminant Scribe - Snapshots of God's World and Word 