By the Sea

I had the opportunity to experience the beach twice in the last two weeks. The first was a short, two-day trip with my wife and kids. The second was with our youth group, as we traveled to Garden City, for our annual beach retreat.

I love the beach. I love everything about it. I enjoy it at any time of the year, and any time of the day. I love the sand, the warmth of the sun, the change of pace, and the roar of the ocean.

One of the things I always look forward to, is sitting in a chair on the sand and watching the waves crash onto the beach. There are two things in nature that, for me, are very hypnotizing. One is the flicker of the flames in a good-size fire, and the other is the rolling of the sea.

Both of these are powerful occurrences in God s creation. While both have the ability to destroy and kill, they also provide great usefulness and resources to human life. The difference is in how much each one is respected. When we believe that we can master either one, or have overconfidence in our own abilities to harness their power, then we set ourselves up for disaster.

The sea, however, is what reminds me of God the most. As I told the congregation Sunday, the ocean looks pretty much the same as it did when I was a kid. It is still called the Atlantic Ocean. However, it is constantly moving, shifting, and rolling. Tides come in and out. As some sand is washed away with each wave, new bits of shells and other matter is brought ashore. It is a fluid, living thing.

God is the same today as He has always been. God existed before there was such a thing as time. Psalm 90 tells us that He is from everlasting to everlasting. He has always been and He will always be.

I am thankful that God, like the ocean, is the same whenever I go to Him. However, He is not still. He is moving and as active as any sea on earth. He is not stagnant, and does not expect us to be either.

God wants us to be actively serving Him by loving His people, His creation, and worshiping Him. He is not still, so we should not be either. In Him is life, and anyone who has life inside cannot be idle.

If you happen to take a trip to the beach this summer, remember to take the time to see God in the might and power of the sea. He is there. He is everywhere, we just have to see and hear Him with our hearts.

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98 NKJV)