Views of the High Sierras from Pothole Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
In the hiking communities I’m blessed to be a part of, I hear many comments about the wilderness. They talk about how going out into the wilderness relaxes them, gives them peace, reconnects them with God, helps them remember what really matters, and so on and so forth. It’s incredible that so many people have a similar positive experience in the wilderness.
Hiking down Gold Hill, Carson National Forest, New Mexico
However, in the middle of finding the peace, relaxation, and reconnection that we seek, we must remember that the wilderness itself is not the answer. It’s a means to an end – a vehicle that God uses. But the moment we begin to see the creation as the solution instead of the Creator as the answer, we’re making a grave mistake.
Cliffs and trees below Mono Pass, Inyo National Forest, California
God gave us the wilderness. He knows even better than we do how much healing and rest we can find there. But it was never His goal that we should substitute the things He made for Himself.
Beargrass along the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana
Paul wrote, “For what may be known about God is plain to them [everyone]… since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him… they… worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of Praise! Amen.” (Romans 1:19-21; 25)
Fireweed along Stillwater Reservoir, Flat Tops Wilderness, Colorado
Everything in creation points toward God. I’ve talked before about how God put a bit of Himself into the things He made. Psalm 19 is full of beautiful prose about God in creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech…” (Psalm 19:1-2a).
Scenery near Cannonville, Utah
The wilderness is not our salvation – only God can be that. If we could be saved just by going to the wilderness, that existed since the beginning of the world. Jesus would never have had to come and die on the cross. But we needed more than what the Creator created – we needed, and continue to need, the Creator, Himself.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison from Exclamation Point, Colorado
I’m grateful for the wilderness. I’m so very blessed that God gave it to us to enjoy and to point us to Him. But it can never take the place of God, Himself, in my life. Because as a beautiful painting is only a 2-D image of the painter, so the wilderness is only a very partial representation of Who God is.
Beautifully said. And true. Thank you for sharing.