A castle in the beautiful mountains of Central Europe was guarded by sentinels whose job was to watch the countryside day and night. They daily viewed a beautiful valley of meadows and fields, fruit trees and rivers, but I am sure that after many months and years of the same view, the sentinels ceased to notice as much of its beauty. If they were like many of us, they would even have complained at having to stand there. And yet one of us would be thrilled to have that view for a day.
Often in our lives the beautiful things all around us tend to blur in the haste and busyness of life. Creation and family and love tend not to have the effect on us that they would if we had never seen them before.
When we are saved, we are made a new creature. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. Because we are made new we can take fresh delight in the beauty around us.
“Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.” – William Carey
William Carey is often called ‘the father of modern missions.’ He went to India in the early 19th century never to return to his native England where an association of ministers supported him. William Carey ministered, preached, and translated for seven years before seeing fruit from his labours. Though he was known by many of the highest officials in India, he told a friend as he was dying, “When I am gone, say nothing about William Carey – speak only about William Carey’s Savior.”
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure –
The saint’s and angels’ song.
– Attributed to Meir Ben Isaac Negoral, c. 1050
This is one of my favorite verses of poetry. It so vividly exalts God. I love the way the author (and translator) used language to create a clear picture of the immensity and greatness of just one of God’s attributes.
