Imagine the Earth’s highest mountain, with a peak at 29,029 feet above sea level. With a snow drizzled summit that towers over the rest of the mountain range spreading for miles. That’s what I got to witness this weekend with my own eyes. Y’all, Mount Everest is breathtaking. Words and pictures do not do it justice, but I am going to try to put into words what my heart was feeling the moment my eyes saw that giant hill.
First, I could not believe that my “yes” to the Lord brought me to Nepal, in a little airplane, flying around the Himalayas. Once I got passed that sense of awe (which I have those revelations often while on the Race), I thought… “How could God create something SO beautiful?” As I sat in row 2 seat A, I couldn’t help but recall Genesis 1 when God created the world. To imagine that our God, with just a simple soft whisper of His voice, He spoke into being the mountains and waves (v.9). Naturally, my mind went to all the stunning places I’ve seen in my life time. All the crystal blue oceans I’ve swam in. All the shades of green I’ve seen in the depths of a forest. All the stars in the sky that captivate me at night. The list can literally go on and on. And to think that when He made Mount Everest and all those other stunning views, He said that it was just “good” (v.10). JUST GOOD!! How can the Mastermind behind all of creation just call it, good! Then to top it all off, He made something better than ALLLLL of those breathtaking scenes combined… He made you and me (v.26). Now that makes me stand in awe.
When God created you and me… He said that we were “very good” (v.31). WE ARE VERY GOOD! When He formed us, He put Mount Everest to shame. Now that’s astonishing and something I will never completely understand. To think that the God of this universe looks down on me and says that I am very good. He says that I am very good despite all my sin, despite all my attempts to control the future, despite everything flesh in me… He says that I am very good. He picks me! I outrank all of creation even on my worst day. Like what!
That same moment when Mount Everest took my breath away, I imagine that is how God looks at us. That when He sees His children, He is absolutely totally smitten with them that it takes His breath away. Now imagine God looking down on you with a little glisten in His eye and a huge smile on His face. Can you picture it? Do you even believe that is how He looks at you? Because I am here to tell you, it is. You are absolutely breathtaking to Him. Let that soak in. You are absolutely breathtaking to the King of all kings. Nothing you have ever done or ever will do, will change how the Father looks at You. Nothing. You are made in His likeness (v.26). Mount Everest doesn’t even compare to your beauty.
Now look at yourself in the mirror, or the selfie mode on your iPhone… and tell yourself you are breathtaking. If you are having a hard time believing this truth (which I think is a normal reaction), I encourage you to sit with the Lord. Let Him speak into those areas because I promise you He wants to tell you how He feels about you. And once He tells you how He sees you, write it down, that way you can go back however often you need to remind yourself.
Lord, may we see ourselves the way You see us… breathtaking and full of wonder.
