Reflection Lake - Alaska
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| Photo Credit: Justyn Smith - 8.29.18 |
Lessons Learned from Reflection Lake
My thoughts on life application lessons learned from my first time visiting reflection lake.
Reflection lake is one of many beautiful spots to walk in the state of Alaska. It’s found just outside of Palmer and Wasilla, and I’d encourage anyone passing by to take the time to stop and walk as you’re able.
I would like to make some spiritual applications to our quick trip to reflection lake.
*Note: it wasn't my intention to receive spiritual applications, but a couple days after the walk the Lord began giving me life lessons from our little trip. :-)
#1 - I didn't know what to expect.
I didn’t know how long the walk around the lake would be. I didn’t know there be a wonderful spot to skip rocks. I didn’t know how clear the water was going to be. I didn’t know that there was a beautiful man made tower that is utilized as a lookout spot over the marshy waters around the lake. I didn’t know that my 18-month-old baby girl would have the determination to walk around the entire thing!
In the Christian life we don’t always know what to expect.
Proverbs 27:1 "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
Matthew 6:33-34 "[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
James 4:13-15 "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: [14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
May we learn to live for God today by trusting Him with our tomorrow's!
#2 - I didn’t realize I’d learn a lesson in determination.
I already referenced that I didn’t know that my 18-month-old baby girl would have the determination to walk around the entire lake!
We should be determined to live for the Lord and keep going for His name's sake!
There are two types of determination easily found in Scripture:
- A determination to do evil - 1 Samuel 20:7 "If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him." 1 Samuel 20:9 "And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?" 1 Samuel 20:33 "And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David."
- A determination to do right - 2 Chronicles 2:1 "And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord , and an house for his kingdom."
Let's purpose to do right and not evil for the glory of God. Let's keeping moving forward for Him. Be determined in your Christian life. He is worthy!
#3 - I realized the beauty of a clear reflection.
We’ve all seen pictures or films that portray the beauty of clear water, but to actually experience it yourself changes the reality of the situation.
The more beautiful the actual scene is, the more beautiful the reflection is where reflections are found!
As the picture portrays, I was reminded that we reflect what we are.
If it's a mountain in the background, you will not see a building in the reflection. If it's a tree in the background, you will not see a flower in the reflection.
If you're a Christian, your reflection should be Christ and Christlikeness...not the old man. The old man is dead!
You will be known by what you are. Matthew 7:17-20"[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
You should remember who you are in Christ. James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
May we reflect Christ. May Christ be seen through us!
#4 - There are people on the same trail as you.
While we were walking around the lake, we as a family were making the journey together, but we met different people on the way. There were some people who were just finishing the walk around the lake, there were others that were just beginning like us.
There were those, the family, that we stuck with the whole trip. There were those that we would leap frog with during the trail trip. And then they were those that we only saw once, and we would never see them again. I’m assuming they are still not on the trail, but that they have finished have arrived home by now. ;-)
Our journey is called life. In life, we will have those that will always be with us, those that we meet up with again from time to time, and those we may only see once.
What will our impact be?
Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Acts 27:3 "And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself."
Jude 1:22-23 "[22] And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
Let's impact those around us in a way that pleases the Lord. Let's serve people, and influence them to Christ!
#5 - There comes a moment when the end of the trail trip becomes the focus.
We had to be home by a certain time. You see, it had been raining a lot in Alaska..so much that there wasn’t a space to mow the grass. My father-in-law stayed back from our trip to watch the two littlest boys while the rest of us went on the hike around the lake. Dad needed to mow though as it was the nicest of Alaskan days…he agreed to watching the littles if we could get back in time for him to start mowing.
We may have been pushing the clock a bit, but all of the sudden, time had slipped away from us a little faster than expected…Lydia was still determined to walk the last little bit herself, but nope, “Daddy has to pick you up and RUN WITH YOU."…of course that ways fun too, but it wasn’t what she wanted in the first place. There wasn’t any more time for lolly gagging on the trail…it was time to head home!
Much like this, there comes a point in our spiritual journey where the glory of God and finishing well becomes our focus.
2 John 1:8 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."
2 Timothy 4:6-7 "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
May we begin to focus on finishing well for the glory of God. May we stay the course and not detour. May Christ receive the dedication from us worth of His sacrifice.
In conclusion:
These lessons have first and foremost encouraged me. May they encourage you during your walk with the Lord, as well!
God bless you!
Blessed Beyond Measure,
Pastor Justyn Smith
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