The Lord of Hosts

I have always had an appreciation for nature and the things God created. I was born and raised in Florida, and my grandparents lived on an island so I lived in the ocean for most of my childhood. I wanted to be a mermaid so badly that I pretended I was Ariel the mermaid for hours on end when I swam in the ocean. I loved the water and the sun so much, and even to this day, being at the beach reminds me of so many happy childhood memories. 

When I was 11 years old, we moved to Alabama. We basically moved from the city to the country, and I longed for the ocean so much. But I quickly discovered that we lived near a huge pasture that had a cut-through to the woods and that became my new ocean. I could not wait to get home from school and go exploring in the woods.

I will never forget the first time I noticed how beautiful the sky is at night. Where we lived in Florida, I never noticed the sky at night, but one afternoon I went exploring in the woods by our house and stayed out so late that the moon was the only source of light I had to get home. I remember I was straddling a huge log that crossed from one end of a ravine to the next, and I was crossing it when I realized how dark it had gotten, so I looked up and was astounded at the beauty of the night sky. I was surrounded by trees but right above where I was sitting was an opening that gave me a perfect view of the full moon and tons of stars. 

The way the stars danced and twinkled, the way the moon seemed almost close enough to touch, and the way the night breeze swept over my face and reminded me of the island breeze at my grandparents house in Florida was enough to make me ponder the existence of God. I did not grow up in church, nor did I know God just yet, but I knew of Him and remembered thinking to myself that night, “How can anyone deny that God exists?” 

I eventually grew up, found my way to Jesus, and began serving Him with all of my heart, and I still walk outside on my back porch and look up at the night sky and think the same thing. Nehemiah 9:6 says, “You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” 

He is the Lord of hosts. God commands the whole universe! “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26). He placed the stars in the sky, positioned the sun and moon perfectly to cool, warm, illuminate, and even tell time. Even the wind and waves obey Him. Remember when Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee? His presence changes everything and He can calm literal storms and the storms of life if we let Him. 

Why do so many people vacation at the beach, the lake, hunt in the woods or hike in the mountains? Because those types of places are where many people find rest, peace, and enjoy nature, right? Just to be in those places calms our soul and we can leave our troubles behind even if it is just for a little while. Just a few days in one of these places can re-energize us for a whole year. Even people who do not believe in God enjoy those places. What do all of these places have in common? They are made by God and not by man. Man cannot re-create those places. They are as natural as it gets and as close to God as we can get here on earth whether it is intentional or not. We were made to worship Him and are drawn to Him and the things He created. He is the Lord of hosts. His rule even supersedes time. He is the God who was, who is, and who is to come. He existed before He formed the earth and He is eternal. “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters” (Psalm 24:1-2).

He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us so we can be with Him for eternity and He is coming back for those who are looking for Him. When I look up at the night sky, I think about that and pray, “Lord, come quickly.” I look forward to the day when we will reign with Him for all eternity in the new Heaven and new earth and I cannot even imagine how much more beautiful it will be. Jesus will be our source of light, the seas will be crystal, the streets will be pure gold, and the moon will be no more. There will be no weeping, no sorrow, and the former earth will not even be remembered (Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21). We serve a God who is all powerful and who is coming back for those who believe and worship Him. I hope you are ready! He does not want any to perish and I want as many people to come with me too. All you need to do is believe in Him, repent for your sins, and serve Him until we go to Him or He comes for us. 

So the next time you look up at the stars, remember He is the Lord of Hosts who loves you and created you for a purpose and offers an eternal life of peace. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).