Take a Walk with Me - Pt. 6

 

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. (Genesis 13:14-18 ESV).

 

Some of the most beautiful sights I have seen in the Smokies were almost accidentally captured with a short walk on a path leading away from one of the many overlooks along the road. Today’s picture was taken at such a spot. Mary and I were riding through the Roaring Fork Motor Trail when the attached picture was taken off the parking area. We had climbed nearly to the halfway point of the motor trail, seeing an overlook space available, I pulled in to just look. Walking around the area I saw a footpath leading up to a higher vantage point. It was not far, so I climbed up and reached the end to be rewarded with this magnificent view. It seemed as if the mountains stretched on forever!

 

Our reading today is the end of the story that begins with how God had brought Abram (whom he later renamed Abraham) and his household on a long journey from Harran (in present-day Turkey) to the land of Canaan (present-day Israel). God had made promises, and Abraham had trusted God, taking him at his word (Genesis 12:1-7). As we can see in today’s reading, God promised to give Abraham all of the land that he could see around him in Canaan. And God said, “Go, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants there, and Abraham settled in that land and worshiped the Lord.

 

God might not call us to journey on foot, but he does call each of us to follow him in faith and faithfulness. At the end of our journey we will receive all the creation God has prepared for us. There will not be an end to it. It is eternal, without limits. I’m always a bit amazed that I spend so much of my journey looking down at my steps that I miss the vista ahead. Never doubt that through Jesus, God keeps his promises to us. Heaven is ahead!