My Awe-full Life
I’ve recently come to the conclusion that I’ve had an awe-full life. Not awful, mind you, but awe-full or full or awe. I was teaching a class a few days ago and I asked those in it if they could point to instances where they had experienced awe or wonder in nature. Every single member could point to a time. As we listed these out loud together I found myself coming up with example after example. From my first glimpses of the Appalachian mountains and Atlantic ocean as a child until the present moment nature has continued to fill me with wonder and awe. I can’t help but believe that is true for everyone.
God’s Creation is simply awesome! I’ve seen that awesomeness in giant trees and tiny flowers. I’ve seen it in the Milky Way above and in marvelous creatures here below. I’ve seen it in the heated desert and in the frozen tundra. I’ve seen the awesomeness of nature in calving glaciers, steaming geysers and raging rivers. I’ve seen it in mountains high and valleys low. Near and far I’ve been blown away by the wonders and mysteries of Creation and led to moments of pure awe and worship.
This awe-full life I’ve had comes as no surprise because the Bible teaches us that there is an awesome God behind all of this. Nature is awesome because it is a reflection of the awesomeness of God. That awesomeness is found everywhere. Isaiah 6:3 says “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Because this is true there are awe-full moments waiting for us all of the time. If we will but use the eyes and ears that we have been given we cannot escape experiencing God’s glory.
The apostle Paul believed that God’s awesomeness in Creation was so great and evident he declared “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) Having seen what I’ve seen, it would be difficult for me to argue with Paul concerning this matter.
I believe that the Creator made the world awesome on purpose so that it would lead individuals like you and me to God. The marvels of nature are signposts directing us to God. Today I am thankful for those signposts and for this awe-full life I’ve been given. It has brought me much joy and brought me closer to the Maker of heaven and earth.
–Chuck
( I took the pictures shown above at Yellowstone NP, Olympic NP, and the Atlantic ocean.)