There’s a place where I’ve been that is the most beautiful place on earth. That’s a pretty big statement, I know. The “MOST beautiful” may be an exaggeration. I’m not sure. After all there are so many beautiful places and things on this earth. So, this place that I’m thinking of is more likely just one of many, many beautiful places. It may even be just average considering the beauty of our world. But that says more about the incomprehensible beauty of our world than it does about my particular spot.

Anyway, my spot is in the Sierra mountains of California. While I haven’t been there in years, the memory is seared in my mind. Hiking up a trail along the Virginia Lakes, is a spot where the trails meet. You stop here and can either turn to go up to higher elevations or continue around the lake. Either way you choose, it is beautiful. At this particular spot, you can stop and look back at where you’ve been. That’s what I remember so clearly: Looking back.

I looked back and saw the beautiful lake below me. Brilliant sapphire blue water rippling in the sunlight. Melting into emerald green as the water neared the shoreline. And another smaller lake beyond it. When you stop and listen, you can hear the birds chirping. Singing with the accompaniment of the leaves rustling in the breeze. An expanse of mountains, rolling over the distance, covered with trees in myriad colors. Beautiful. Even magical. No, miraculous!

And this is not an exaggeration. I doubt that my words could do this beauty justice. And, as I said, it isn’t uncommon. There are many, many beautiful places in our world, both nearby and far away. And “Miraculous” is not simply hyperbole. When we look at this earth that we inhabit. When we see its beauty. We see the miraculous work of God. The Psalms repeatedly make this clear:

“In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land” (Psa 95:4-5).

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them” (Psa 19:1-3).

While in our lifetimes we have been continually bombarded with the theories of Materialistic evolution, they are not proven science. We can easily fall prey to the thinking that these are facts, because that is how they have been presented to us. The reality is that they are what they appear to be: Theories. Their explanation of our origins and the beautiful creation around us presupposes the absence of God. Therefore, all must be explained solely by natural processes with no supernatural interference.

However, the biggest argument against the Materialist view is right before us when we go “where the trails meet,” so to speak. Observing what God has done, we can listen as “The heavens declare the glory of God” and “the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Because, as Paul puts it, “…since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Rom 1:20).

Perhaps, in these turbulent times, when so many are searching for meaning and spiritual things, one of the greatest tools we may have is to simply ask them to look around. Even share with them our special place “where the trails meet.” Ask them to seriously look at what they see, where did it all come from? Did this all happen by chance interactions? Do the other explanations make sense? Or is there more?

This is really what Paul did when he presented the gospel in Athens. The people there could see by looking around them that there was something more. But they didn’t know what. They even had an altar inscribed “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (see Acts 17). Paul saw their recognition of “something more” as an opportunity. And so, he explained to them that “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” (Act 17:24-25). Our God, the God who created everything, is who they were looking for. And so are so many people around us today.

So, close your eyes. Search your memory. Where is your place? That place of indescribable beauty that reminds you of our God. That place “where the trails meet.” It could be a serene mountain lake. Maybe your place is along a sandy beach. Something simple, you’re awed when you see the bird singing in the branches of the tree just outside your window. Or, you see God in a cloud moving across the blue sky as you walk down a city street. Wherever, or whatever, your place is, tell someone about it. Then, tell them about the God who made it.

Dave Foucar has a passion for teaching God’s word. His first book, “What Do I Say When Asked About Jesus?” is a conversational approach to helping people answer questions about Jesus. The book provides a layman’s perspective on personal evangelism and the basics of the Christian faith. Dave has been married for thirty-six years to the love of his life, Debbie. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. To read more of David’s writing visit his Substack page.

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