The Sublime Or The Mundane

by George Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: General | Nov 1995

The great trans-Canadian train jangled to a halt. Having been alerted that there would be a brief opportunity to see a spectacular view of Mount Robson, highest peak of the Canadian Rockies, we hurriedly alighted from the train. A vast panorama stretched before us, breath-taking in its beauty. The trees on the mountain's lower slopes were rich in colour, pageant of the Canadian fall. Their colours merged upwards into a deep green belt of firs, which in turn gave place to steep, bare rock. The summit, snowcapped, glistened brilliantly against a clear, blue sky. To borrow Wordsworth's famous line,

We gazed and gazed, but little thought

What wealth to us that scene had brought.

For it has so often come back to mind, an abiding impression of the beauty and majesty of God's creation.

'All aboard!' rang out the porter's familiar rallying call. Back in the train it seemed dull and stuffy after enjoying the bright sunshine and keen mountain air. A small group of passengers sat playing cards; others drowsily watched them. With blinds drawn to shut out the sunlight they had not troubled even to glance at the scenery which had given us such pleasure. Were they so familiar with the route that its beauty seemed commonplace? Or did they not at all realize what they were missing?

This brought to mind some words of the prophet Isaiah about the Lord Jesus Christ: 'When we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him' (53:2). Many today seem absorbed with various interests but find no attraction in the Person of Christ. Yet to the Christian believer his, Saviour and Lord becomes 'the altogether lovely One', in whom is found continual and deepening satisfaction and pleasure. It was no exaggeration when Paul referred to his mission as preaching the 'unsearchable riches of Christ' (Eph. 3:8).

But of some careless Christians Peter wrote that they saw only what is near: they were spiritually shortsighted, having forgotten the cleansing from their old sins (2 Pet. 1:9). They were urged to give more diligence to make their calling and election sure, that there might be richly supplied to them the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

George Prasher, Manchester, England | Nov 1995
General