“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~Hebrews 12:2 NIV
This week I have been so blessed to be able to enjoy relaxing mornings in the early time of sunrise. I awoke to the pre-sunrise glow of the sky and approached my sandy perch with the intent to pray and record the sunrise. As I poured out my heart and devoured God’s word, I began to get overwhelmed by the glory of his character being revealed to me through His creation. Watching the sun go from fire red to brighter golden yellow was such an awe-inspiring experience. Something about the sunlight shimmering over the lapping and crashing waves the spoke louder than all. I found myself simply lost in the rolling reflection of the radiant morning sun. As my camera rolled footage of this glorious experience I noticed the beach began to fill slowly with passersby that threatened the solace of these moments. There soon appeared a couple of people who rather than simply passing by stopped directly in the line of sight my camera had to the beautiful reflection. I grew impatient as they lingered longer and longer.
But thats when revelation landed or poured in like a flood.
What was being disrupted was the reflection. The centerpiece of this moment was the Sun as it rose over the Atlantic. It had somehow become about the mirrored image of the sun, its reflection. I took my eyes off the prize.
His word encourages us to:
“…press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 3:14 NIV
Maintaining focus on THE prize was disrupting the glory of the sunrise. Being so enraptured with the reflection, and not caught up in the originator of the beauty.
How often do we have similar experiences in daily life?
There is true beauty in creation. We can marvel and rightly so in the brilliance in which things were crafted and the magnificence in much of the fruit of the creator’s tree. Are those things, so temporal, so seasonal, so dependant upon the existance of one greater worthy of our central focus?
Why do we do this? I submit that many of us simply get distracted. Let this be a reminder then. Others of us may feel overwhelmed by the power of such a direct focus. Admiring through a reflection might appeal to us as we may embrace a watered down experience that doesn’t have the strength to sear so deeply into our being.
If that is you, I say it is time to be radically changed. Now is YOUR moment to let go of yourself and to allow the life changing power of Jesus to ressurrect all that is dead in you today! He awaits your responds with hands desiring to continue to create something in you! That sunrise marked the beginning of a new day. Will it be one with the love and power of the Son reigning within you or just another day on the beach?
We are reflections of God’s glory, but are not too be worshipped. Ultimately all praise and adoration belongs to God. It is not sinful to enjoy the beauty in each of us that is created, but giving praise and glory to creation robs God and in turn robbed me of that moment’s peace, that stillness in the quiet of the day. Giving your attention to the reflection allows for your faith, joy, and peace to be as fickle as the tide. As we revolve around the ever constant “Son” make Him your focus and continually be lost in His glory.
I would love to hear about a time recently when you found yourself lost in His glory or a time when you found yourself a lot like me, lost in reflection worship.