After our National Staff Conference, Nicole and I traveled just south of Denver to stay with some of our extended family for a couple days. There is a good possibility we wouldn’t have had the chance to see them again before we left for Italy, so we were glad to stay a few extra days. 

For one of the days, we traveled up to Breckenridge to go hiking. Below is some pictures from our hike.

During the hike, I kept asking myself, “why does this bring me so much joy?” 

What is it about vast landscapes and high peaks and grand waterfalls that makes my heart glad? Why do I seek out strenuous, grueling hikes in order to reach the top of a peak? Why does my heart smile when I’m on top of that mountain, feeling the reality of how very small I am? 

Because in those instances, God’s glory is on display, and God’s glory is most satisfying.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. – Romans 1:20

God eternal power and divine nature are put on display when you look out over a valley at sunset. For some, there is an temptation to look out over creation and praise the creation itself. Scripture even affirms this: “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” Although God’s creation is beautiful, it’s beauty is meant to point us to God. It’s a reflection of his beauty. Thankfully, because God has opened my eyes to see the truth, I cannot take in such views without seeing and feeling the power of our infinite God. And not only has God imagined and created these mountains pictured above, but He causes them to sing, and the rivers and trees to clap their hands in worship (Isaiah 55:12, Psalm 98:8). Wow! We serve a God that would make the rocks cry out if we were silent in our worship (Luke 19:40). He is constantly upholding this universe that He has created by the “word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Think about it…everything you see remains in existence because God tells it to. 

This is not an autonomous world that God created, and then left alone to run on its own. He is always providentially interacting with his creation. Each morning, ‘he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good.’ (Matthew 5:45) To quote John Piper, “He brings the sun to rise. Can you imagine why the sun rose this morning on this city – this wicked city? This world is so full of us-type sinners, and He makes paradise rise in the sky…What kind of patience are we dealing with here?” 

Our God is intentional in causing the sun to rise each morning. He wants us to worship him.