Enjoying the Beauty, Anticipating the Glory

I decided this weekend to take some time off and drive from Memphis, in the southwest corner of Tennessee, to Chattanooga, in the southeast corner of the state, and spend a few days with my son Jonathan who is a student in the Scenic City (Chattanooga's nickname). The long drive was made even longer by three areas of road construction. I hate road construction. What should have been a five and a half hour drive turned into a seven and a half hour drive.

Nevertheless, it really wasn't that bad. Just on the eastern side of Jackson the leaves began to change in color. For the next four hours (that is about as much daylight as I had) I soaked in the beauty of October. The rolling hills of middle Tennessee covered with green, and brown, and orange, and bright yellow, and colors I can't begin to describe reminded me why I love Fall. It was incredible.

On Monday morning I awoke in Chattanooga and was blown away by the surrounding mountains. The colors are brilliant! I couldn't help but thank God for His creativity! After Jonathan finished with his day of classes we headed out for some rock climbing at Sunset Rock, located on Lookout Mountain. Almost two thousand feet above sea level, Sunset Rock looks down into the valley where Chattanooga is nestled. It also provides an incredible perch from which to view the surrounding mountains. Again, I was mesmerized by the beauty of the colorful mountains set against the backdrop of bright blue skies. What an amazing sight.

At the end of the day as I thanked God for a great time with my son and the opportunity to take in the beauty of His creation I was reminded that all of this is but for a while. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:18 says "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." As amazingly beautiful as creation is, it is passing away. I was also reminded, however, that one day the Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth. And while we know very little about this new creation, we do know it will be overwhelmingly superior to the one we enjoy now. I am sure it's natural beauty will shock us. Its true beauty, however, will not be the glory of creation, but the glory of the Creator. The new heaven will shine with the light of His glory. The colors will reflect His holiness and perfection. In the new earth there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; for the first things will have passed away. In the new earth we will see Jesus!

I really enjoy the beauty of the present creation, but I am longing for the glory of the next. So I pray the words of the apostle Peter; "we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

Journey On,

Michael