The Witness of Creation
This morning I helped with the Sunday chapel service at Mackenzie Place retirement facility. I always enjoy this time connecting with the residents as Pastor Steve Harris and I team up once a month. The residents always are gracious to express their appreciation for us being there. This afternoon, I enjoyed a visit from Ted and Murlene Grizzle. It has been a long time since connecting with them and it was good to hear of improved health for Murlene and the Lord’s faithfulness during some challenging months. These dear folks were such a blessing to me during my health crisis that I was pleased to hear that my devotionals had been a source of encouragement to them in recent months.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 HCSB
Has your “breathe been taken away” by a view of God’s creation? Have you stood in awe of the natural world? Living in Colorado, we are afforded an opportunity to gain a view of our world from a “different perspective.” Climbing a mountain or just driving through the mountains provides some opportunities to gaze at the special beauty of God’s creation.
We find in the Bible not just the fact that God created the “heavens and the earth” but that creation speaks to God’s glory, work and existence. Often people will express, “feeling closer to God” in the beauty of nature. Is that just an expression or a response of what our hearts know to be true regarding the One who, “…sits above the circle of the earth…” (Isa. 40:22 NLT)
I recall being with our children when they were small viewing a great scene of nature and saying, “look kids! All this happened by accident! Isn’t wonderful?” They were quick to pick up on my sarcasm.
The psalmist declares that the “heavens declare God’s glory and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.” God is powerful and He is to be worshiped with awe and reverence. When Jesus calmed the wind and the raging sea, His disciples responded, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matt. 8:27 NIV)
Throughout the Bible we see God demonstrating His power over creation. From the parting of the seas, to His command over the earth and animals in the Old Testament, to darkening the sun and an earthquake when Jesus was crucified.
Creation not only gets our attention about God, but call us, even without words, to seek Him out. “For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 HCSB)
I still recall a friend of mine who worked in farming and ranching, commenting, “it is difficult to work with the earth and around animal life and not believe in a higher power.”
God makes Himself known, so that we will seek Him and know Him. Paul said to those in Athens, “The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands…He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things…He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:24-27 HCSB)
Psalm 19 not only declares God’s existence through creation, but His revelation through His commands, love for people and mercy available for all. The Lord, “renews ones life” (Psa. 19:7) makes “the heart glad” and makes our “eyes light up.” (Psa. 19:8 HCSB)
It is one thing for God to create life in the world, it is another for Him to create life in us. When that happens, we rejoice in Him not just as the God who is, but in the “Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.“ (Psalm 19:14 HCSB)