by David Chadwick

Mountains in autumn are captivating. We can't stay away.

And rightly so. The colors alone make us gasp at God's beauty.

If you visit the mountains this fall, also think about the purpose of mountains in the Bible. They have a spiritual significance that is as deep and wondrous as the physical beauty.

For example, go to Mount Sinai. It's the place where Moses received the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). It's God's moral law, perfectly describing his character.

These laws are not suggestions, but commands. God gave them to us for our own good. They serve as celestial guardrails to protect us from harm. From forces trying to destroy us.

When you visit Mount Sinai, remember that we don't break God's laws, they break us! Do you love God's law? Is it a pleasure, even a privilege, to obey what God has clearly told us to do? How should we live?

Examine each one of the Ten Commandments. How are you doing with each one?

We are never closer to God than when we are obeying his law and will.