A couple of years ago David Blaine set a record for holding one’s breath at 17 minutes. A few months ago a Swiss freediver, Peter Colat, shattered and extended that to an amazing 19 minutes 21 seconds.
I’ve shared that my family recently went on a special vacation cruise to Mexico. My wife & I are celebrating our upcoming 25th anniversary (if she can put up with me a few more weeks!), so it was an early present. We are blown away by the beauty of God’s creation. We got to see the Mayan ruins (another story another day) but the apex was swimming with the dolphins in Cozomel. We looked at all the beauty & it just screams out God’s hand.
“He is the God Who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve His needs—for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need. Acts 17:24-25
The trainer told us some interesting facts about these beautiful animals. They are very social & curious, even playful. But they are mammals & therefore they must also breathe air, so they come up for it regularly. They also can’t drink salt water anymore than we can. God’s solution: eat squid or octopus (mostly made up of water)- kinda like a glass of fresh H20. In the wild they live 20-25 years, but almost twice that in captivity because all their needs are met & they are protected. They also shed their skin every 2 hours, thus they love to have someone rub their backs & bellies! Amazing. While we petted those beautiful animals it was right there before us: amid the beauty of creation is the reminder we are all dying.
Not to be morbid, but we live on this big blue marble for maybe 80-90 years. Eternity is a heck-of-a lot longer. Dolphin’s biggest enemy is man, far greater than orca or sharks. Come to think of it, OUR greatest problem is man! But on the other hand our greatest blessing & salvation came from one Man:
… the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:17-19 NLT
I am incredibly thankful for the beauty & wonder of creation, but I am even more blessed & thankful for ‘new creation.’ I’m thankful that God can take our messed up lives & world, touch us & change us by His grace. While we may be outwardly dying, when we inwardly die to ourselves, He can raise up this awesome ‘new creation.’ Hope it’s so in your life. Just as He breathed life to Adam, I pray He breathes new life into me & you.
If you’re ever headed to Cozomel to swim with the dolphins give me a yell. Maybe we’ll just go back & swim with you!
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Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
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