The Power of God

We just returned from a two week vacation in Colorado and Wyoming. We went white water rafting down the Arkansas River, we went across the Royal Gorge Bridge, visited The Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, the Olympic Training Center, the Air Force Academy and many other amazing tourist attractions in the area. (And yes, I did a little fly fishing!) The picture you see above is one we took from The Garden of the Gods with Pike's Peak in the background.

One of the greatest experiences on the trip was the majesty of the mountains! The rock formations at The Gardens of the Gods, the Rocky Mountains, the Royal Gorge were truly breathtaking. But man has done a tremendous work at taking away from the awesomeness of these sights.

Everywhere we went there were displays, videos and all kinds of other informational aids to let people know that all of this grandeur was purely accident. Just two tectonic plates bumping together millions of years ago. All just random accident.

Imagine standing in front of the Mona Lisa, admiring the beauty, thinking of da Vinci and how talented he was when behind you the guide at the museum informs you that da Vinci didn't actually paint it. "One day," he says, "a young man happened to knock over a table and spilled a bunch of paint. Leonardo just happened to be walking by and lifted the canvas the paint had spilled on and when he lifted it off the floor this picture was there, so he claimed it." That kind of story takes some of the majesty out of the picture, doesn't it?

When we look at the mountains, the trees that line a beautiful river, the rolling meadows and the barren deserts we see the artistry of The Creator! We see his love for beauty, diversity and magnificence.

Two tectonic plates shoved together? Yes. But not necessarily over millions of years and not by accident, but by the very hands of God! He formed the mountains! He caused the rock formations at The Garden of the Gods! He molded the Royal Gorge!

Think about it!

Seeking Great Treasure

I walk quietly through the timber, looking everywhere. I am hunting.

I’m not quiet because I fear that I will scare off what I’m hunting for, but because I enjoy the quiet. I enjoy the sounds of birds, turkeys, and the wind through the trees. I enjoy the beauty of the plants as they grow from day to day, new leaves, taller plants and I use a stick to move aside the vegetation to find my treasure; morel mushrooms!

I know some of you do not understand traipsing through the timber, getting muddy, scratched from the brush and having to check for ticks when you’re done, but some of us enjoy the thrill of finding one, then another, then another! It’s like the Easter Bunny has hidden surprises throughout the woods! And then, after you’ve cleaned up, washed the mushrooms, and brought out the skillet, then the treat becomes even greater.

There is great satisfaction in finding a great treasure and enjoying the flavor of it.

God’s word is like that. Proverbs 2 says, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. . . . For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (vs. 1-5 and 10)

The great thing is that you can look for it as for silver and search for it as for a hidden treasure, and you never have to venture into the mud or tick infested timber. You can search from your breakfast table, your desk at work, in bed at night before you close your eyes. And while morel mushrooms are here today and gone tomorrow, the words of God endure forever!

So hunt! Seek and you will find! Knock and the door will be opened to you! Find that which will be pleasant to your soul!

Think about it.

Lance