God's Stamp of Approval

Lutheran Valley Retreat, Near Divide, Colorado

There is a story behind this stump just as there is a story in each one of our lives. The story of this stump includes death.

More than likely this tree died in the 2002 Hayman fire that devoured much of the land that surrounded Lutheran Valley Retreat. Had the fire not occurred, this tree would still be alive, but then again, maybe it wouldn't.

This tree might have died of natural causes or from the infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle. One way or the other this tree had a limited life span.

Our days are numbered.

Our mortality might scare us, yet standing before God might even be more frightening.

"However, in our spiritual nature, faith causes us to wait eagerly for the confidence that comes with God's approval." Galatians 5:5 God's Word to the Nations

As Paul reminds us in Galatians, our confidence to stand before God is not based on the quality of life we've lived but on the One who lived life for us. Our confidence is in Jesus who suffered death in our place that we might have confidence of God's approval in him.

Yes, the story of our lives will include death, yet more powerful than death is God's approval of us in Christ.

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(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.