When one thinks of Africa, usually what comes to mind are images of deserts, vast flatlands, and of course, animals. While this may be characteristic of a majority of the continent, South Africa has a landscape all it’s own.
A few days ago, Cathy and I headed north to see some of the beauty South Africa has to offer. We were blessed to be able to take the trip with a couple named Scott and Becky. These two Americans have spent the last few years in South Africa, on and off, working on discipling the people here and raising up a new generation of believers. They’ve also been the ones to show us around town and take us to the places we need to go. They truly are a fun couple, and here they are taking us on an adventure to regions unknown! (Okay, the regions have obviously been well explored, but they were unknown to me!)
As we began our trip north, the scenery quickly changed from city life to rolling countryside. Evergreen trees extended every which way in long rows and columns. Grassland spread out as far as the eye could see, the perfect place for animals to graze. Large rocks were thrown about as if God had sprinkled them on the top of His masterpiece. Riv
ers trailblazed pathways through all this eons ago, creating valleys and cascading waterfalls. God had definitely taken some extra time when He made this land.
That was my thought as these beautiful landscapes passed me by. We made a stop at Mac Mac Falls, a powerful dual waterfall that creates a mighty splash as it crashes to the earth. As I stood there, I thought about what the purpose of a waterfall is. We may be able to generate some energy from them, but I just think that God created them for our enjoyment. I feel it was just one more way for us to stand in awe of His majesty.
Our next stop took us to the Blyde River Canyon, which I have been told is the third deepest on earth. It wasn’t very deep in the area we were, but we didn’t come to see how deep it was – we came to see the Potholes. The area is so named because of the way the canyon has eroded over time. The river encounters several craters in the rock as it flows through. From above, the rounded extrusions look a lot like potholes. I really enjoyed spending some time here, jumping from rock to rock, finding as many places as I could where Go
d’s finger had done some carving.
Our main destination for the day though was a place called God’s Window. As we headed to this site from the Potholes, I wondered how a place could get a name like God’s Window. What would God look at? With these thoughts in mind, we hiked up the path that led to the view point. As the world opened up in front of me, I could only let out a muffled “wow”. It was a crystal clear day, and possible to see for kilometers and kilometers.
As I stood there, I pictured God sitting on the area named for Him, making the surrounding countryside at the beginning of time. Sure, it looked different then, but I can’t imagine it looking any more beautiful. I imagined Him sprouting trees and creating lakes with a move of His finger. I saw Him making the area green and beautiful. I visualized His hands moving up and down as He created the mountains in the distance. If God is able to sweat, I could picture Him wiping a bead of it off His forehead, and then smiling. He was smiling 
at His beautiful, perfect creation out in front of Him. He was also smiling at the thought of me, standing in that very spot so many years in the future, praising Him for all I was seeing.
Yeah…God worked so hard for me…for all of us. And He still is. I can’t imagine all God has done just for us. He didn’t have to make the world so beautiful. He didn’t have to make the tall mountains and the vast oceans for us to explore. He didn’t have to make the leaves change colors in the fall, or paint amazing pictures with the sunset each evening. He didn’t have to put the stars and planets in the sky for us to stare at in wonder. He didn’t have to create us in the first place! Most of all, God certainly didn’t have to send His Son to die a criminal’s death for us, so that we could spend eternity with Him…in an even more beautiful place than the one I saw. Yet, He did all those things…and so many more…all because He loves us.
Even as I stood at the top of God’s Window, I couldn’t begin to comprehend all this. I’ll never understand just how much He loves me. What I do know is that there’s nothing I can do to cause Him to love me any more, or any less. It doesn’t matter how good I do, or how much I screw up. What I do know is that as I stood in God’s presence on that mountain, I could feel His arms around me, His warmth and His love…and I know that’s exactly where I always want to be.
