Reflections

I've been thinking again.   This time it was while kayaking on the lake and beholding God's glorious creation.  The air was perfectly still, the sun warm with a few clouds here and there, and the water became a mirror reflecting the glorious work of God's hand.  It reminded me of Romans 1:20 "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 people are without excuse."


Specifically, I was reminded of God's unchanging nature.  Hebrews 13:8  "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever."  This is an important concept when we are on the hard road of life.  It is easy to be drawn into thinking God is not good anymore or is absent or changed His mind in His care for you.  Imagine this scenario if you will and contemplate what God can teach you from observing nature.

On that beautiful day on the lake the Autumn trees reflected almost perfectly in the lake as well as the clouds and colors of the sky.  I could look straight ahead and see them or look down and see them.  Praise poured forth from my mind and mouth at the beauty of that sight.  Then something changed.

A boat passed by in front of me leaving a wake of waves and ripples in its path.  All of a sudden I could not discern the trees or the sky but just a jumble of colors mostly silverish in the chaos of the water.  Had the trees moved?  Had the sky vanished?  Was the beauty gone?

You know the answer.  The trees were still there as well as the sky and beauty but the change in the waters surrounding me changed my view.  The mirror was disturbed and could no longer reflect the beauty.

Our lives are like that.  When circumstances are going well we can "see" God and feel His beautiful hand in our lives.  When situations get rough our view is distorted by those circumstances and we tend to think God has changed.  He has not.  He is still there like those mighty trees with their colorful leaves and the sky is still in its place with God on His throne in heaven.  This is when faith must be used.  We can no longer rely on our feelings or sight but must rely on what we know is true.  God is the same today, yesterday, and in the future and He cares for His children.  1 Peter 5:7  "Cast all of your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."  Galatians 3:26  "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."


Dear children, believe in your Father.  He is always there.