Human Scale Versus Creation’s Magnitude

In
the year 2000 we moved to a small village in Nenana, Alaska to plant a new
church.  It’s a huge land filled with magnificent mountains and some large
wildlife such as the Alaskan moose, which can grow to be 6 ft. high at the
shoulders.  But we were especially
enthralled by the huge mountain peaks.  Growing up in school we learned about Mt
McKinley the tallest mountain in North America.  But now we had the opportunity
to see it in real life and it was awe-inspiring.  The Athabascan natives called
it Denali, “The Great One!” 

Seeing
this huge mountain which can only be seen 30% of the year because of its own weather
patterns, I began to think how similar our experience is with God.  We hear the
stories that a Great Being exists, but we cannot see Him.  After a time we begin
to doubt, since all we see is the bank of dim clouds rising above all the
10,000+ ft. snowy peaks.  Then one clear day, suddenly, unexpectedly, there it
is!  Ascending majestically above all else, in rock solid reality on the
southern horizon, “The Great One” at 20,230 feet of breathtaking, snow covered
beauty.

It’s
similar with God.  We go through life
working hard, dealing with our daily battles and wondering, “Where is God?”  We
read His Word and we pray, and we wonder if He is really there.  And then, one
day the darkness around us parts, and in the midst of our overwhelming
struggles the power of His presence moves across our lives and we know He is
real and that He cares.     

This
is where I first realized the overwhelming Magnitude of creation!  Everything,
where we live, cities, etc., is human scale—3ft wide doors, steps to
accommodate human foot traffic, 8 ft. ceilings. All of this human engineering
gives me the idea that I’m in charge of this human scale world and my human
scale problems then become giant. 

However,
in nature we cannot deny the scale of God’s creation.  How often do we spend an
extra minute to go look at the sunset or smell flowers by the road?  I feel God
speak very clearly to me through the majesty of the mountains.  He is sovereign and greater than anything
that looks like an obstacle to me.  He has me in His hand and if He created all
of this spectacular world, He can certainly take care of me.