by Elder Peter Lim

Greetings from paradise!

As I’m on vacation right now in Hawaii, I’m reminded of the greatness of God’s creation. As everyone in the world knows, Hawaii is a beautiful place to spend some time in. From the lush, tropical rain forests and the Na Pali coast of Kauai, to the wonder of Kilauea the volcano on the Big Island, to the Pineapple plantations, the big waves along the North Shore, the fish and landscape of Hanauma Bay and Diamondhead on Oahu, God has certainly blessed this area with may evidences of His creation.

However, as John Rudolph shared at the luau, we should be reminded that this is not really Paradise. It’s a fallen world. The curse upon this world goes much further than the fact that there are thorns and thistles on plants and the existing enmity between man and animals. It affects our innermost being as we have been exposed for the sinners that we are. Even right here in “paradise” there is evidence of the sinful nature of man as the military bases and the various WWII memorials (such as the Arizona memorial) attest to. There is no remedy for this by our own efforts.

As nice as it is here, I can’t wait to get to the real paradise, the one in the presence of our Lord. Meanwhile, I can sing along with the hymn that Jim Reeves wrote, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door. And I just can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”