In the midst of desolate desert, with Las Vegas, Nevada, just a few hours away, rises the magnificence of Zion National Park. Here, the contrast of burnt orange red hues and white sandstone form gigantic edifices and walls. The intense blue backdrop of the sky, the cottonwood trees, and pockets of ferns and yellow flowers create a breathtaking scene before me as I contemplate the words, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth” (Psalm 50:2).
The mountains of Zion National Park are massive and erect. They do not worry about heat or storm. They remain and endure. Those who come to Zion are not seeking to fill themselves with the world’s definition of enjoyment, as offered just a few hours away. No, those who visit are willing to wade through the frigid waters of The Narrows and hike precipitous trails, with sides that plunge straight down hundreds of feet, to reach heights where angels are said to land. They come from all over the world to experience the beauty of Zion.
The second verse that comes to mind is, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Psalm 125:1).
Putting these verses together, could those who trust in the Lord come to be reflectors of the perfection of beauty which cannot be removed?
Trust.
Trust is the secret ingredient, the essential quality that creates intimate relationships. It’s a vital component of the experiential aspect of being a follower of Christ. It’s a law of health, and it’s a secret, underutilized weapon in overcoming our battles with cravings and appetite.
“Temptations to the indulgence of appetite possess a power which can be overcome only by the help that God can impart. But with every temptation we have the promise of God that there shall be a way of escape. Why, then, are so many overcome? It is because they do not put their trust in God.”[1]
Most of us trust—we trust alcohol to get us through a situation; we trust chocolate or Mac ’n’ Cheese for comfort; we trust Oreos or Doritos to satisfy, etc. But trust in God becomes very practical when I identify that at the foundation of it all is a human nature that craves, that “lusteth to envy” (James 4:5 KJV). That’s the nature of it. We can expect nothing more.
The answer comes through trust; and I trust that as I choose to follow the biblical plan of daily dying to my nature, the Holy Spirit imparts to me His nature, and becomes my Source of comfort, of desires fulfilled. And you and I end up becoming strong, unmovable, someone through whom God shines.
[1] Ellen G. White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 154.
