Of All the Things, Admire This

As a photographer I notice things, especially pretty things. My eyes perpetually observe, here and there, up and down, in search of objects to admire. My visual sense hungers for things that sparkle and shine, which contrast dark and light, so I find myself constantly on a quest to find details highlighted and delicately magnified, unseen to most passersby. When my eyes catch such a sight, they stay focused there in order to appreciate the beauty and intricacy of the scene.

I now realize that the pretty things don’t delight me quite as much as the light that makes the things pretty. I have learned the physics of light, about its waves and beams, shadows and highlights. As I studied I began to see light in a new way with its angles and the way it falls over various subjects. I often gasp at the beauty of light as it paints a scene before my eyes. Light transforms an ordinary, flat object into a stunning landscape of depth, contrast and detail. 

It’s the light I delight in, that changes what I see and how I see it.

There’s another light that transforms what we see and how we see it. This light takes the most ordinary of things and makes it gloriously beautiful and full of purpose—the precious Word of God.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

The Word of God, its source God Almighty, shows us the beauty of the One, the only One, truly worthy of our worship and adoration. The Word displays the love of God for fallen humanity as it points us to a glorious Savior. It convicts and heals, shows the way to forgiveness, offers peace at the cross. It gives purpose to history and humanity. The Word provides us the only truth to live by.  This Word never fails because its author is Faithful and True.

Have you heard of it? The Holy Bible is this Word of God, this light to our path—the light that changes everything. Chase it, like the photographer in me chases light. Seek it, learn from it, live it out. Only here do you find true happiness.

Of all the things in this world that arrest our pleasure, I encourage you to admire the Word of God.

Take Up and Read:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5