God’s Silent Witness
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 NLT
An important Biblical truth is not only God as creator, but God who is reflected in His creation. I recall a friend of mine many years ago who made the comment, “You can’t work with animal life and close to the land without believing in God.” This individual who was a farmer and rancher was not necessarily a man of strong spiritual commitment, but was just commenting on what he had observed through his work.
In classic poetic form the psalmist says the heavens themselves, “proclaim” God’s glory and the skies “display” his craftsmanship. This is no subtle inference about a God “who is there.” It is a bold and relentless statement that can not be ignored or denied. “…night after night they make Him known…”
The creative work of God is declared throughout scripture. Many look only to Genesis, but throughout the Bible we see references to creation. The opening verses of John’s gospel says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3 NIV)
Paul the Apostle declares, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16 NIV)
The prophet Jeremiah declared, “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” (Jeremiah 32:17 NLT)
Creation is God’s “silent” witness to His reality and majesty. “They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” (Psalm 19:3,4 NLT)
In the Bible we see God described as sitting on the “circle of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:22) We see in Job, the oldest book of the Bible, a reference to the “rain cycle.” “For He makes water drops evaporate; they distill the rain into its mist…” (Job 36:27 HCSB) We see creation under the power of God’s hand referenced throughout the Bible. God parted the waters of the Red Sea and Jesus calmed the storm on the sea of Galilee. The disciples in fear proclaimed, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41 KJV)
As followers of Jesus proclaim the good news about Jesus throughout time and until Christ, returns, we see the ongoing witness of the “God who is there” in creation. Paul says that fact alone brings a point of accountability.
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19,20 ESV)
When the majesty and beauty of creation is observed in person or in pictures, we have choice. We can say, “Look, how wonderful and it all happened by accident! How great I am” or our hearts can declare with the hymn writer of old, “then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou Art!”
Prayer for today… “Lord thank You for revealing Yourself and Your handiwork in creation. As we behold the beauty around us in the heavens and on the earth, may our hearts be drawn closer to You as we are reminded of who You are and how great You are.”