A glacier is formed by vast amounts of snow turning into ice as more layers of snow press down on the top or sides of a mountain. As this goes on year after year, a long, deep mass of ice builds up and a glacier is formed. Eventually the great weight of ice begins to slowly move downward, pushing ice, soil and loose rocks ahead of it like a giant bulldozer. Though it doesn't appear to be moving, it is actually moving very slowly, perhaps only a few inches a day.
A glacier may cover so much area that its lower end could be melting in a warmer part of the land, changing into a stream or lake. But most often a glacier moves toward the ocean where great chunks break off and float out into the water. These huge floating chunks, many of which weigh thousands of tons, are called icebergs.
These masses of glacial ice are often beautiful to look down on from a nearby hillside. People are sometimes tempted to climb up a glacier. But that should never be done without a guide's help, because there are often hidden holes (crevasses) where an inexperienced person might fall through, causing serious injury or even death. Huge caves are often formed, too, but these are also dangerous to explore without a guide's help. What most frequently happens to glaciers, adding to their beauty, is that as the force behind keeps them moving, they break into innumerable chunks of ice-pretty to look at, but dangerous to climb on.
The greatest number of Alaskan glaciers end their journey in the North Pacific Ocean, where warmer salt water splashes against them, breaking off chunks, large and small. This is an example of the wisdom of the Creator, using the melting of glacial ice to add fresh water to keep the oceans of the world from becoming too salty.
The Lord God, Creator of all things, invites each of us to spend eternity with Him in heaven where even more wonderful things will be seen. How can we get there? The Bible tells us, "He [Jesus] is able also to save them to the uttermost [forever] that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). Have you done this? Have you confessed to Him that you are a sinner and accepted His payment on the cross for your sins? If you have not yet done this, will you do it today?
It will be of interest to consider the place icebergs have in the Creator's plans.