Like Walking Trees

In the moments before sunrise, God opens the door to a fresh new day. I sometimes gaze out window and watch as He paints the sky between broken clouds along the horizon of the Cascade Range. I find these moments to be affirmation of God's presence during my morning devotions. Such was yesterday's beginning until a knock on the door interrupted spiritual reverie. I was informed that I would be going out on a medical trip at 6:00 a.m.

This was unusual since medical trips are generally scheduled later in the day. The escorting officers asked about my music preference as we began the thirty-five minute journey over rural back roads to clinic. Thinking of options on broadcast radio, I replied that I preferred classical music. I settled back for what I thought would be a routine trip. I wasn't aware that the particular vehicle we were in had satellite radio. One officer selected a station and I was suddenly immersed in soothing spa music.

Despite the music I could sense the quiet of early morning as sunlight washed over the valley while raising wisps of fog here and there along the river. Occasional roadside spiderwebs glistened with morning dew diamonds.   The earlier welcoming sunrise was obviously packaged with continuing evidence from nature that reveals God's love. I must join with the Psalmist in saying, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?" (Psalm 8:3,4).

Like people on city streets, trees were everywhere along the roadway. In response to a question from Jesus, a blind man replied, "I see men like trees, walking." (Mark 8:24). I don't know why my attention turned to the numerable variety and the uniqueness of the branching within individual trees. Perhaps my reference last week to Psalm 1:3 equating Christians to trees was the stimulus. "He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Just as trees stand above nature, the true Christian stands tall while presenting God's love to a world in need. "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 55:12,13).

God was not content to provide what would suffice for mere existence. He has filled earth and air and sky with glimpses of beauty to tell you of His loving thought for you. The beauty of all created things is but a gleam from the shining of His glory. If He has lavished such infinite skill upon the things of nature, for your happiness and joy, can you doubt that He will give you every needed blessing?" [E.G. White, MB 96,97]
[All Bible texts from NKJV]

 

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