A Call to Explore
Image: Christa Jewett, Saltwater Studies
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
Throughout history, humans have always displayed a fascination with the ocean. It is a wild thing that begs to be appreciated, enjoyed, and explored. Underneath its waves are unique creatures that are present in numbers beyond human comprehension. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has given up on trying to estimate the number of different species present in the ocean’s depths. NOAA’s literature used to estimate that possibly one million different species can be found in the world’s saltwater regions. Now, as we continue to find new species hiding in the watery recesses of the planet’s largest mountain range and deepest valleys, this statement has been revised to say that the number of ocean inhabitants cannot be estimated. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean’s inhabitants.
The ocean is deep, mysterious, and alluring. However, the human fascination with the ocean goes much deeper than the intrigue of the unknown. Its vastness stirs in our souls a desire placed in our hearts by the God who created us – a desire to know and be known by Him. The ocean, along with all of God’s Creation, offers us an avenue to become intimately engaged with our Creator. This is because, according to the Bible, all of Creation testifies of the One who created it.
While the Bible is God’s story, our natural environment offers us its illustrations. All of Creation provides physical examples of spiritual concepts described in Scripture. And we find numerous examples of these illustrations in the world ocean. For example, the allure of the sea is well-described in a poem called Sea-Fever by John Masefield. In it, he writes “I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.” There is something about the ocean that begs us to experience it, enjoy it and explore it. Similarly, in Scripture, God displays a heart that greatly desires for us to get to know Him. Consider His invitation to us:
“And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)
The appeal and call of the ocean also represents the voice of our Creator, calling us to come near, explore and immerse ourselves in His depths. Just as scientists struggle to quantify the nature of the ocean, so God presents His unfathomable nature to us. His greatness is beyond human comprehension. Yet in the majestic beauty of the seas, the power of the ocean’s waves, and the sheer vastness of its reach, we are offered a small glimpse of the character of our Creator-God. Is this thought not humbling? I echo the sentiment of the Psalmist who wrote: “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4, NKJV). Who are we that God should offer Himself to us so generously? How great is His love for us!