Last weekend, I went to the Shenandoah Mountains to hang out one-on-one with God. While hiking around Humpback Mountain, I overheard a girl comment about the view. She said, "Mommy, we can see the whole world from up here." To which, the mother responded that you couldn't see that far although it may seem like it. Pollution, industrial sprawl and the limitations of the human eye limit one's vision.
The little girl was absolutely right about the view. It is spectacular! On top of the mountain, you can see the beautiful valley below and the rest of the Shenandoah Mountains stretching out to the North and the East. It sure does seem like you can see a long ways. I wonder if Jesus felt the same way when the devil took him up to a high place to see all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8).
Sometimes we think that we can see everything just like that little girl. Overcome by the vastness of the scene, we come to think that what we see is all that there is. But God knows better. He sees to the ends of the earth. God sees beyond the edges of the earth to the very limits of the heavens. God looks down on the earth. His vision penetrates to even the very depths of man's soul. All things are laid bare before Him.
Job 34:21 (NLT): "For God carefully watches the way people live he sees everything they do.
Psalm 14:2 (NIV): "The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."
Despite the grandeur of God's creation and the vastness of His knowledge, I take solace in that He longs to hold His children close. The Father enjoys lavishing His love on His kids and pointing out the landmarks in the paths ahead. Just like a mother who kneels close to her daughter to discuss the mountain view, God comes down to our level and shows us what we can process. He doesn't flood us with too much because He knows our threshold. I am starting to really understand that being on my knees is the greatest vantage point to see God's world.
