He’s more awesome than we can imagine.
Sedona Backcountry
The more I learn about God, the farther from me he seems. Let me explain. Not particularly in our relationship, but in the huge gap between our natures. I read in biology about the tremendous complexity of the inner reaches of cells. I read in astronomy about the billions of trillions of stars, all needed for life on earth to exist. Then on last year’s trip to Sedona, I jumped on a backcountry jeep tour that took my level of God’s actions to an undreamed-of level. The guide could have been a geology prof, and he pointed out this cliff above. He got my attention by saying this was all underwater, even the top. Then he told us to look at all the layers, the strata.
The ocean built each by coming in, leaving behind sand or other minerals, then receding. Those layers dried, then the ocean returned, creating another layer. And so on. And so on, until this cliff of 100s of feet, was formed. But keep in mind, at the top, it was all flat. Then the earth moved from pressure and heat from beneath, distorting the strata, and rain and wind eroded this cliff into a canyon, like slicing into a Cheesecake Factory cake. So now, eons years later, we can see the process of creating this artistry.
Think of God’s patience. Even with him being outside the dimension of time, this took time from the earth’s viewpoint. Billions of years. He created the earth and the processes that continue to form it. Think of Hawaii volcanoes increasing the land mass, or the continents continuing to slowly move. No such patience for me, I prefer instant gratification. Give me $10 now in place the of the chance of winning $1 million in a lottery. Yet God waited, and brooded. And tweaked.
Think of God’s immensity, to create this entire universe, with our planet of life being a small one orbiting a small star. Try imaging the mass of the universe, with its 10 billion trillion stars. He did that.
Think of God’s genius, able to design such a massive universe, and a defense system for a human body to recognize wounds or infections and stepping up to fight them. To design a scavenger system to get rid of waste: the ants I despise.
Think of God’s love of beauty, a beauty seen in a flamingo, and the beauty of cosmic constellations that we’ve only recently been able to see view with the space telescopes like Hubbel. Until now, only he and the angels could gaze upon that beauty.
Think how puny we are, in comparison. But think, he knows our thoughts. He knows how many hairs adorn our heads. Think of how he loves us, how that love transcends the immense gap between his nature and ours.
Kick Starting the Application
Have you pondered the details of God’s transcendence? Does that humble you? Have you pondered the depth of his love and action for us, so far from him by nature? How might this post change you?