Solid, Dry Rocks

This might sound like a cheesy concept that's been told a million times by Christians throughout the years but I'm gonna say it anyway.

While Greta and I were in the Smoky Mountains this week and on our way back, we went to a couple of places where the whole imagery of Christ as a 'Rock on which was stand' (Psalm 40:2) really was clear to me.

In the smokies, we both hiked to the summit of a place called "Chimney Tops" (in the first picture). Once at the top, we stood upon a large area of rocks where we were given an absolute magnificent view of the mountains all the way around.

On the way back we stopped in Cookville, TN and hiked down to a waterfall called "Burgess Falls". Here we viewed the falls from both the bottom, and the top. You can see me in this picture standing at the top on the right.

Now this is what was interesting to me. Both times, I would feel both the sensation of danger and security in the same moment. On the mountain, the height overwhelming. If the rocks were to collapse, we would fall to our death. But of course....they wouldn't collapse. They were solid. It was part of a mountain after all.

On top of the water fall I was a bit sketchy at first to get close to the edge. The surrounding area seemed to be soaking wet. Rocks that are wet may as well not be rocks at all; they may as well be ice. If I fell into the top of a waterfall as tall and powerful as this one I would have either died from the fall, or drowned at the bottom. However, as I got closer, I realized there were many portions that were completely dry right on the edge. This allowed me to stand right in the midst of this roaring water with utmost security.

And this is whats so cool to me. I think God displays His beauty and goodness in such things as a mountain valley or a roaring waterfall. (read my post called 'declaring glory and righteousness if you want). But just those natural beauties, God is also dangerous. Our sin has made us unable to naturally come to him without being destroyed. But that's what makes the gospel so wonderful.

Jesus, in full perfection, allows sinners to stand on the edge with complete security and assurance. It doesn't matter how high up we are, our how powerful the waterfall is, those Rocks were keeping us safe. And whats so wonderful, is that in that security, we don't just rejoice in being "safe"....but we rejoice in getting to be overwhelmed by the beauty that's in front of us. I've not been brought to the edge of the mountain or the edge of the waterfall simply to feel "secure", but to sit in awe of something so beautiful. So that I can say, "Isn't it AMAZING!" So that I can 'praise it.'

Jesus brings us safely to the top to be astonished.

-michael