Stepping Stones: Beauty Deposits from God

Transformational Thought

Last evening I glanced out my window and noticed the most unusual, eye-catching color in the sky. The setting sun created a light and shading scheme that spectacularly dazzled my eyes. After a minute of soaking it in, I walked away. Then something brought me back to that window for a much longer gaze. The realization struck me then and there that the displays of beauty must have been designed to declare their existence of His Holy Being. I realized only God Himself could create such day-halting beauty.

My daughter’s smile, a bright autumn day in New England, that glorious sunset, oceanic splendor, the Grand Canyon, Hawaii’s volcanoes, the Highlands of Scotland, the Kenyan Serengeti, the Northern Lights, my wife’s look. All these beautiful and wondrous sights are meant to proclaim his Presence in the world.

Can you imagine what the Garden of Eden was like? Because it was even better than what we see now. The amazing part…these are just beauty deposits of the real beauty promised to and waiting for us in heaven. Doesn’t it whet your appetite?

Amazing, divine splendor, untainted by the decay and sin of this world. Heaven will be like an endless museum of masterpieces, leading to the ultimate perfect Master, God. Everything else will pale and become insignificant after we see Him. Just as time seems to stand still when we gaze at a sunset, time will stand still infinitely in His divine, awe-inspiring, magnificent presence.

The problem, Satan’s plan is to, 1) get us to worship the beautiful art and forget about the Perfect Artist. Chalk it up to the Big Bang Theory. Or, 2) keep us so busy and jaded that we don’t appreciate God or the beauty deposits He graciously blesses us with as appetizers to the real banquet we will enjoy, someday soon.

Today, do not rush past these proclamations, these beauty deposits, without enjoying and giving thanks for them. Think about what they point to: our eternal place gazing at Him and being with Him. Hopefully this assurance, hope, and reality will overshadow the darkness, ugliness, and problems you are encountering today. The lenses you use are your choice, so choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I worship You, in the beauty of Your Holiness. Thank You for giving me glimpses of Your ultimate beauty. Help me, Father, to not rush by the beauty deposits that You have provided. Your beauty is a gift. Thank You, Father. Help me remember that I, too, am a beauty deposit, and carry a responsibility myself…to declare Your glorious being to the world just as Your beauty deposits declare your beauty to me. I pray these words in the name of ultimate beauty, Jesus Christ; and all God’s people say - AMEN!

The Truth
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Isaiah 6:3

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20