The next helper had a very unusual appearance! Her hair was messed up and frizzy like it had been scorched, her clothes had holes burned in them, and the bottom of her shoes were almost burnt all the way through! The teacher looked surprised and asked the helper what had happened. The helper said that she had been exploring active volcanoes!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the two most active volcanoes on the planet. The park is located on the big island, called ‘Hawaii’. This island has been entirely formed by 5 different volcanoes over the years.
Three of the volcanoes are not active at this time, but the other two volcanoes, which are in the park, are still active. Both volcanoes have several craters on their peaks, and rifts and vents along their sides. During eruptions the lava can come out either at the craters or from the rifts and vents.
The volcano named Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world! If it is measured from the ocean floor to its peak, it is taller than Mount Everest. Its last eruption started on November 27, 2022, and lasted until December 13, 2022. This volcano by itself has formed a little over half the big island of Hawaii. At one point during the eruption the volcano was putting out between 50 and 100 cubic yards of lava every second
The other volcano in the park is named Kilauea. This volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, there are very few times when Kilauea is completely inactive. The latest major eruption started in September 2021 and lasted around 16 months until December 2022. The temperature of erupting lava from Kilauea was about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit (1,150 degrees Celsius). Less than one month later, in January 2023, Kilauea began to erupt again.
When lava is under the ground it is called magma, but as soon as it reaches the surface it is called lava. Lava flows down the volcano and begins to cool, as it cools it hardens and becomes lava rock.
Because of the extreme temperature of lava during an eruption, lava rock can steam for several years. After a few years, the hardened lava starts to break down and form soil, and plants begin to grow on that new piece of ground. The island of Hawaii is getting bigger all the time because of the lava flows.
Application for you and me:
In some ways the life of a Christian is like a volcano. At times everything in our life seems to be going well, and then without warning trouble erupts in our life. The troubles are devastating and sometimes it seems that there is no way we can survive this problem. But God is always with the believer through everything that happens in this life.
In the Bible in Deuteronomy 31:6 it says:
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Just like the cooled lava rock makes the island of Hawaii grow bigger, every problem and trouble in the life of a believer causes that person to grow!
In the Bible in James 1:2-4 it says:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Also, in the Bible in Romans 5:3-5 it says:
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
If you are a believer and your life is erupting all around you like a volcano, rejoice because God is up to something good in your life! He is causing you to grow!