How refreshing the salt air is as we arrive at the oceanside. Each in our group wants to be first to the water, but first someone asks the question, “How many things here remind us of God’s creation? For instance, where did all this sand come from?”
The answer: A microscope would show that it is made up of tiny particles of rock (mainly quartz which keeps the sand from grinding to powder), seashells, bits of minerals and even material from underwater volcanos. All of this, tossed up by the waves, continually adds to the freshness and beauty of what was placed here when the world was made by the Creator. The sandy beach is also a barrier to keep the ocean from washing away the adjoining soil. Someone recalls a verse: “Here shall thy proud waves be stayed.” Job 38:1111And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? (Job 38:11)
We have arrived at the beach at low tide, and the water is far out. As we walk across the sand someone exclaims, “Look at all the pretty stones I found! Soon all are searching for other pretty stones. Where did they come from? The action of waves pounding rocky beaches and inflowing streams break and carry chunks of rock into the water. These are tumbled over and over which smoothly polishes them. Finally, some of them tumble close to the shore where they can be seen. Someone asks, “Isn’t there a verse that says, ‘For Thy pleasure they are and were created'?”
“Yes,” is the answer, “in the very last verse of Revelation 4. Think what happiness must be God’s to see all the beautiful stones and gems He has created on beaches throughout the world.”
Something else catches our attention—seashells—all kinds of them—round, oval, spiral, ribbed and smooth. Many of them have fantastic colors! Each one used to be “home” for a live shellfish, and after its death the shell was washed ashore. Surely this must be part of Revelation 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11), too.
A large stone is rolled over, and we see a scurrying of little crabs and other creatures objecting to having their hiding place discovered. Some of these are sand hoppers with their 14 pairs of legs. They dig furiously to escape while sand fleas hop indignantly about. Look, there goes a seaworm and right behind it, a centipede. Do all rocks on the seashore hide these different kinds of life? Yes, nearly all of them do. It is just a small display of the many creatures God has made that live on the ocean shores.
As we walk toward the water, the shells also remind us that death follows life. For these creatures of the sand and sea, there is nothing after death. But every human being has a soul that never dies. During his life on earth, he is the only one of God’s creation who has the opportunity to find God’s way of preparing for the more important life that is yet to come. God’s Word, the Bible, says, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Have you accepted this wonderful gift?
We have spent so much time watching these interesting things that we will have to wait until next week to resume our walk across the beach to the ocean.
ML-05/09/1982