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.