Saturday, October 17th, 2009 7:45 p.m.
There's something about this land...not this country, but the actual land it is on, that seems to describe some of the many attributes of God. I am sitting here gazing at the mountains, which unapologetically tower above the tips of our roofs, their majestic heights soaring into the sky. The mountains speak to me of God's faithfulness, His constancy. They are immovable, enormous, and everlasting. Nothing can cause those mountains to slide even an inch to the right or left. They will be there until the world comes to its end. God is like that: He is never-changing, constant, and steady as a rock (Psalm 18:2, 62:1-2, Isaiah 26:4). For that reason, we can always trust Him without question. Even when the winds are blowing and the thunder is raging, and the night is black as pitch, when the lightning flashes, in that split-second, we can look up and see the mountains, still there. And we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is right there, no matter how severe the storm or how dark the sky.
Behind me, the surf is quite restless today. Large waves, many with white crests of sea foam, have been crashing upon the sandy shore ever since early this morning. However, only a few days ago I was walking along the beach with Dee and the ocean was so calm it was nearly inaudible. It can so quickly go from creating thunderous, wild waves to tiny, soft ones. The sea explains to me the mystery of God's might coupled with His wonderful compassion. His anger towards sin is so powerful, but at the exact same time His lovingkindness to all people is never-ending (Romans 2:18, 1 John 4:9-10). God's contrasting attributes of wrathful judgement and gentle compassion are so perplexing to the human mind, but His marvelous oceans help make the mystery a bit less complicated for me.
Finally I understand why being here, in the middle of the mountains and the ocean, is so soothing to my soul. I am living right between visible, tangible reminders of God's constant faithfulness, His overwhelming strength, and His everlasting love. God has placed within His creation evidence that He is who He says He is. And finally I think I can appreciate just what the psalmist, who had the same visible reminders in Israel - lofty mountains and vast seas - meant:
"Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the people with equity."
Psalm 98:7-9
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