“REED” This

What Are You Looking At?

I have one of the most beautiful drives one could ever have each day as I drive to and from the church. As I turn from highway 17 onto the F.J. Torres Causeway and travel just a few hundred feet, I am met with the beautiful marsh grass waving in the breeze with the tidal creeks winding their way through it and in the distance, through the space between two islands, there is the vast Atlantic Ocean. In the mornings, the sun shines brightly before me with its light shimmering across the water with millions of sparkles dancing off the top. And in the evenings, the beautiful sunsets gently bathe the marsh with a golden warmth while an array of reds, oranges, purples, and pinks splash across the sky just above the horizon as the sun sets in the west. These times seem to bring God’s magnificent and glorious creation onto full display and I am in awe every time I see it. I quickly want to praise God for His beautiful creation and the opportunity to see it. I think, “What a wonderful blessing You are giving me, Lord.” Then, I sometimes begin to think about all the life that is out in that marsh area. God has created all of it: the marsh grass, the crabs, the fish, the shrimp, the birds, the water, the soil, and everything else and has put it in motion and every day that creation of His follows the order that He has set in place. Every day I look out and His creation is still there, living and existing as He meant it to be. How wonderful and awesome is our God!

This morning was different. I didn’t see all of God’s beauty that I just described. I was too busy trying to watch the road and all the traffic around me. I was traveling up to speed, yet it was still bumper to bumper. I was trying to get around those who were driving too slowly while begin careful not to run into the vehicles in front of me. There were times when I may have had an opportunity to glance to my right or left to see the marsh and water, but my focus was completely on my driving and making sure I was getting in and through the traffic the best and quickest way I could. My goal was getting on to the office so I could get my work done. But, when I arrived, I felt that I had missed something. I knew what it was because I had felt that way before. I had missed the opportunity to look and see and marvel at the Lord’s creation. I had missed the opportunity to praise and thank Him for the beauty of His handiwork that was right there for me to see and enjoy. My focus was on something else. Yes, I needed to be focused on my driving, I fully understand what you are saying. But I could have done that and still been mindful of praising God. Too many times we get caught up in our lives, the business of work, activities, our goals, our desires, and we miss the simple joys of life as well as Who should be our priority. We neglect to lift up our eyes and see our Creator and all He has done and give Him the praise He is due while we live our lives. If our focus is only on ourselves and our goals, then we need to stop, repent, and ask God to forgive us. Then, we need to put God first and foremost on our minds so our eyes can see and we can be mindful of His presence that is always all around us. We will still be able to accomplish our work and all that needs to be done, and I believe even better than without. We just need to be sure and not miss or neglect God.

I do look forward to seeing God’s beauty each time I drive across the causeway. But even if I am driving or even sitting on Frederica Road because of the traffic, my mind’s eye still needs to be on Jesus and praising Him.

“I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God.”  Psalm 123:1-2  NIV

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, June 29, 2021