Are you one of those people who gets really excited at the beauty of nature? When you drive through the mountains do you have difficulty keeping your eyes on the road? While viewing a beautiful sunset do you just take a moment to soak it in?
Recently, while living in Oregon for a short time, I determined to see Mt. Rainier. Actually the day I saw it my plan was to do something else. But, while driving down the road I saw the mountain top. I changed my plans, turned the car around, and headed to the mountain. If you’ve ever chased a mountain you know what I quickly learned: the mountain is always further than you think.
Quickly I realized I had no idea of the best way to view the mountain. After stopping to ask directions I headed out, more determined than ever to get a good view. Around and around we went, winding up and down through the thick canopy of trees. Several times I almost turned around. It felt as though I was chasing a beautiful illusion. But suddenly, I turned the corner and caught a view of Mt. Rainier. I took my hands off of the steering wheel and clapped like a little kid, scaring my poor wife to death.
Around the curve was a pull off so you could get out and soak in the view. I quickly pulled over, got out, and stared at the glory and grandeur of the mountain. Surprisingly, a couple of tears trickled down both cheeks. Wow. I had not expected that! What had just happened?
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever sucked wind when you suddenly see the beauty of creation? When you look up at the sky at night and see the stars do you feel the tug in your heart? What is going on? Why do you feel like that?
I have figured it out. I know why you feel that way. Here’s what I think. I think when you and I see the beauty of creation it strikes a cord deep within. And the chord it strikes goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden of the first creation and runs forward to the New Garden of the new creation.
Think of what the Garden of Eden must have looked like: stunning, unspoiled, spectacular. But sin ruined that beauty. Decay ruled the day. Sadly, creation bows to entropy and is falling apart moment by moment.
When you see a beautiful sight it strikes a chord that resonates with the beauty of the Garden. There is something deep inside of you that responds to beauty because it pulls your DNA back to the Garden. All beauty is an internal faint echo of the unspoiled beauty of Eden.
But wait! There’s more! The Bible tells us that there will a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev. 21:1) Some day there will be a recreated Garden of Eden. The lost unspoiled beauty will be spoiled. You and I were created to live in such beauty. That moment, when you view the beauty of creation, strikes a chord that points to the Garden past but also points to the Garden future.
So the next time you suck air at the beauty of God’s creation, let it remind you that for the moment you live between the Gardens. And allow that knowledge to inspire you to live in such a way that you will experience God’s new creation.
What is a beautiful sight that made you suck air?
I feel the same way when I go out and look at the stars in my telescopes. For me it is a kind of worship. (Not worship of the stars, of course,but the God who made them!) Sometimes when I am driving to work early in the morning, I will sometimes stick my head forward and look at the stars, taking my eyes off the road for a few seconds. Not very safe, but….. I sometimes will open the patio door and look up at the stars before I go to bed. I read an article this morning about the European craft that just landed on a comet. Quite an accomplishment, but also foolishness about how we can now see if there is any organic material
that maybe was spread from comets and “seeded” through the universe as a vehicle for life on planets. ( including ours)
For some, this is easier to believe than admit the reality of God!
On our drive to Mesa we saw some incredible scenery. It just amazes me. Just like I wrote in this post I REALLY do think that the thing in me that jumps up and down in excitement is some sort of mysterious echo of the lost beauty in the garden. Thanks for posting.
In Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven” he states his opinion that God has given everyone a special love for a specific part of creation in which God reveals himself to that person. For me that would be stars. I know a guy that is absolutely crazy about mountains, some it may be flowers. Others may ask themselves: “how has God revealed himself to me?
Makes sense to me!