Sunrise

Morning is my favorite time of day. This is unfortunate for me because I'm really not much of a morning person. I don't like getting out of bed. Because of this, I don't witness very many sunrises. Usually only out of necessity of having to be up for something.

But in the autumn, when whitetail deer season opens, I get to experience a whole lot more of them. I'm up way before daylight. And while it is still dark, I slip into the woods and climb into my treestand with my rifle or my bow--waiting for one of God's most beautiful creatures to walk out in front of me.

One of the things I enjoy most about this time is watching the sun come up. It's as if a whole new world awakens before me. First, the birds begin to chirp and sing. Then squirrels and chipmunks start to scurry around. I can see the steam rise as the sun begins to burn off the morning dew. I feel the warmth on my face.

A few minutes ago, I was sitting in darkness, unsure of what was around me. (I've been followed and face to face with coyotes and other predators while in the dark.) In the dark, noises can be difficult to identify. But when the sun rises all is clear. Things make sense. I can feel the advantage swinging into my favor.

Now the spiritual stuff...

Isaiah 60:1-2 says, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you."

These are dark and uncertain times. The world seems to be cloaked in a shroud of darkness. Wars, financial collapse, relationship crises, etc. Yet in the midst of all of that, the Lord rises like the sun upon his people. His glory appears over his people. If it "appears" then it must be something that is visible to all.

Isaiah goes on to say that "nations will come to your light." People will notice a difference between those who follow Jesus and those who don't. We're in the same economic system, yet God's people have al they need. Our marriages weather many of the same storms, yet the stay together. (I'm speaking in faith.) Wars abound, but we are at peace.

There should be a marked difference. Not the kind of difference we create by how we dress, speak, or who we associate with. But the kind of difference God makes when he rises like the sun upon our lives--when his glory appears and is evident to all. It's the difference only God can make in the lives of those who are pursuing righteousness. It's not by our own efforts, but only by the favor and providence of God. It's the kind of difference I experience in the transformation of the forsest when daylight comes.

The psalmist says that God is a sun and shield for his people. Wow...that makes a whole lot more sense to me now. So followers of Jesus can take heart and be encouraged in the world's present crisis. Because God rises like the sun on our lives. His glory appears and is like a shield for us. This is something the world can see and take notice of...and hopefully be drawn closer to him.

Scenic Byway

So this is the third time I’ve been to Denver, Colorado in the past month. I’m the new Sr. Pastor of Dakota Ridge Assembly in Littleton. Littleton is a suburb southwest of Denver and really close to the mountains. It’s a great church and a great place to live. Not to mention the beautiful views.

These three visits have been filled with a lot of busyness. The first time, we were interviewing with the church board, meeting the staff, and checking out the housing market. The second trip was a ministry weekend when the church voted on us and we accepted. (And more checking on housing.) This third trip was for the purpose of buying a house. We had narrowed down the possibilities to a relatively short list. Vicki is pregnant with our fourth child and the doctor doesn’t want her doing anymore traveling in her third trimester. So she trusted me with this sacred task, and I’m here by myself.

We have been so busy these trips that we have not been able to enjoy the mountains. We have been amazed at the scenery and majesty of what was right in front of us, but we were too busy to experience them.

So there I was with two hours to kill before I had to be at the airport to go back home. No busywork to do, no more phone calls to make, no more homes to look at. I decided this was my chance. I took off and went as far as I could west on Colorado Highway 8 through Morrison and Evergreen. I figured I would go so far, then turn around and come back.

The views were amazing. The air cooled off at least ten degrees…maybe more. I stopped at a roadside parking area. There were cliffs leading down to a beautiful mountain stream. An artist was there with her easel committing the beauty to canvas—and doing a great job at it. I went down a rocky path down to the water’s edge. Snapped a few pictures with my iPhone and swished my hands around the water. It was so cold. I loved it.

I didn’t have much time, so I got back in the car and took off further west. All the time, taking in the magnificent views. After about ten minutes I saw a sign that signified the beginning of a scenic byway. I thought, “Scenic byway? Are you kidding? What have I been driving through for the past twenty minutes?” I couldn’t imagine it getting any better. “I’ve got to see this,” I told myself, and so I continued.

Sure enough, the scenery became even more spectacular. There were aspens, junipers, and evergreens growing along the road and up the sides of the mountains. A rushing mountain stream flowed along the side of the road. The sun was peeking through the trees just right. The mountains seemed to get larger. Out even further I could see the snow capped mountains that shone brighter today than two days ago from yesterday’s snows.

Okay, I’m not an emotional, crying kind of guy. But I almost had to stop the car. I was overcome. My first reaction was to pray out loud, “Thank you, God, for letting me live here.” My second thought was, “Is this what Heaven is like?” I’m no longer talking about scenery. As magnificent as the Colorado Rockies are, I don’t think they compare to the beauty of Heaven. I’m talking about thinking I was already on a scenic byway. Thinking that it couldn’t get any better than this…then it does. I’m thinking about Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:9. “No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it—what God has arranged for those who love him.”

You know…life is good. Jesus said that his purpose was to give us life in all its fullness. Sure we have our ups and downs. But life is good. Sometimes we don’t always feel that way about life. Things happen. But it doesn’t change the fact that life—the life Jesus gives—is good. But it gets better. For those who are in relationship with Jesus and walking with God, there remains something far more wonderful than the scenic byway.

The more I drove, the more beauty I beheld. With all my heart I wanted to keep going. It was as if the road and the scenery were calling to me, beckoning me to keep going just a little farther. Let’s see what’s around this bend…just a few more miles. But the clock on the dashboard snapped me out of the trance. I had to turn around if I was going to catch the plane back to my family. As I started back I prayed out loud again, “Lord, I’ll never turn back from you. Just keep taking me farther on the road to Heaven.”

Heaven calls to me. There is a genuine sense that there is more to this life. The farther I travel, the more beauty I will discover in Christ. There is a real anticipation of finding out what lies around the next bend. And if I keep going, I will reach the ultimate destination off the scenic byway.