One of the greatest investments a parent can make is simply spending intentional time with their children. Those opportunities look different in every season of life. Earlier this year, our family celebrated a milestone as my youngest son graduated from high school. In just a few weeks, he will begin studying mechanical engineering and move into his college dorm. Before all of that happened, we decided to take a father-and-son road trip together.
Our destination was some of America’s most beautiful national parks, but getting there was part of the adventure. Since this year marks the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66, we spent much of our first day traveling portions of America’s “Mother Road.” We stopped at the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma, spray-painted our names on a Cadillac at Cadillac Ranch in Texas, posed for pictures at the famous Wigwam Motel in Arizona, and enjoyed several other memorable stops along the way. The roadside attractions were fun, the scenery was unforgettable, and the conversations with my son were even better.
One of the greatest gifts God gives us is time with the people we love. Life moves quickly, and every season brings new opportunities and new responsibilities. This trip reminded me how important it is to be intentional about making memories.
Over the next few days, we visited seven national parks. Each one left us in awe of God’s incredible creation. Yet as impressive as the scenery was, I found myself noticing something even greater. Romans 1:20 reminds us that God’s invisible attributes, His eternal power, and His divine nature are clearly seen through the things He has made. Creation is not Scripture, but it constantly points us back to the God of Scripture.
At every stop, it seemed as though the Creator was preaching another sermon. Over the next few days, I would like to share seven sermons God preached to me through His creation. My prayer is that these simple observations will encourage you to look a little more carefully the next time you step outside and marvel at the work of our great God.
The first sermon came from an unlikely place … the Petrified Forest National Park.
God Can Preserve What Time Cannot
At first glance, the Petrified Forest National Park doesn’t look particularly extraordinary. The landscape is dry and rugged, with scattered logs lying across the desert floor. But a closer look changes everything.
These aren’t ordinary logs. Each one has been preserved with incredible detail while being transformed into solid stone. The grain of the wood is still visible. The bark is recognizable. Some even look as though they could have fallen from a nearby tree only a few years ago. Yet they are no longer wood at all. They have become something entirely different while remarkably retaining the characteristics of what they once were.
Standing there, I found myself thinking about time. Time changes everything around us. Buildings deteriorate. Technology becomes obsolete almost as quickly as we purchase it. Styles change. Cultures shift. Seasons of life come and go. As parents, we especially understand this reality. One day you’re teaching your son to ride a bike. Before you know it, you’re helping him move into a college dorm.
Life moves quickly. Yet in a world defined by constant change, God reminds us that there is something time will never change.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8
That verse has encouraged believers for centuries because it points us to one of God’s unchanging attributes: His faithfulness. The same God who spoke through Isaiah is still speaking through His Word today. His promises have not expired. His truth has not become outdated. His character has not evolved with the culture.
Everything else around us may change, but God never does. That truth should bring tremendous comfort.
We often look for stability in things that were never designed to provide it. Careers change. Financial markets fluctuate. Relationships experience difficulty. Our health can change unexpectedly. Even the strongest institutions are not immune to uncertainty.
Only one foundation remains completely secure. God’s Word has outlived every empire that has attempted to silence it. It has endured every skeptic who claimed it would disappear. It has remained true through every generation because its Author never changes.
As I stood among those preserved logs with my son, I couldn’t help but think about the season of life we were entering. So much was about to change. A new school. New friends. New routines. New opportunities. Yet the most important thing he could carry with him into this next chapter wouldn’t fit in the back of our truck.
It was the unchanging truth of God’s Word. The same is true for every one of us. Life may look very different today than it did five years ago. It may look very different five years from now. But the God who has faithfully led you to this point will still be faithful tomorrow. His promises will still be true. His grace will still be sufficient. His Word will still be the surest foundation upon which you can build your life.
The Petrified Forest reminded me that while time changes almost everything, there is One who stands above time itself. And that is very good news.
Personal Reflection: What are you depending on today for stability? If that foundation were removed tomorrow, where would you turn? This week, spend a few extra moments reading God’s Word and thanking Him that in a world of constant change, His truth remains forever.
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
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