Lucky We Live Hawaii

This weekend took me from Hawaii Kai to Kailua to Mililani to Makaha, all in one day. I saw the lush beauty of the windward rainforest, the sweeping majesty of our island’s twin mountain ranges, and the rugged grandeur of the leeward side. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it all in one day, so I was struck by God’s creative power in a powerful way.

Then I was struck by the fact that our beautiful island hasn’t always been this way. In Genesis 1, it says “the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.”  In other words, the earth was empty. Chaotic. Messy. Dark. Dead.

But then God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light! God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation,” and the earth brought forth vegetation! God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures.” And it was so! Creation is a real-life reminder that God specializes in taking messy, empty, dark, dead things and bringing them to life.

Some people feel like life is without form and void. Messy. Empty. Dark. Dead. If so, just look around a little bit. Crane your neck up to the Koolau’s and take in all the lush, green vegetation. Go down to the beach, stick your head under the water, and look at all the bright, beautiful fish all around. Manini. Uhu … Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Open your ears in the morning, and listen to all the birds chirping. When’s the last time you really noticed the birds? Go down to Ala Moana mall, sit down on a bench, and just watch all the people walking by. The pinnacle of God’s creation. Look at how many interesting people there are from all over the world, wearing all kinds of interesting things, speaking all kinds of interesting languages.

When you take a minute to step back and appreciate all the life that God’s brought into this world, it will remind you that God can and will do the same thing in your life. John Calvin said, “There is not one little blade of grass, there is no color in this world, that is not intended to make men rejoice.” God gave you his creation to point you directly to him, and remind you of his power to make all things new.

The problem is, we have a tendency to look at God’s creation, appreciate it, and forget to take the next step of seeing how God’s creation is pointing us to him. We start to worship the creation itself. We take our favorite aspect of his creation and expect it to give us life:

  • We think people will give us life. “If I only had a wife (or husband) then I’d be happy. If only I had a better wife (or husband) then life would be good.”
  • We think nature will give us life. “If I could just get away from it all and lie on a beach for a few weeks, then I’d feel alive. If only I could surf more, then I’d be recharged.”
  • We think money will give us life. “If I only had a little more money, then I wouldn’t be so worried every month about paying all my bills. Then I’d be content.”

But Proverbs 11:4 says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Riches won’t do anything for us on the day we die, so why would we ever think money (or people, or nature) could give us life right now?

We’re lucky to live in a such a spectacular place where we can see God’s amazing power all around us. God’s creation is meant to be enjoyed. But ultimately, it’s meant to point us to him.

Only God can give us life. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.