The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Psalm 19
We’re just getting started in our series on the meta-narrative of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Glory. This week we find ourselves in week 2 of 4 meditating on creation. There are certainly numerous facets and implications of creation that we could study, but today we simply consider the majesty of God as revealed in nature. What do we see of who God is in the world around us? And what does that mean for our lives?
Creation reveals God’s power. That’s perhaps the simplest way to say it. When you find yourself in the middle of a storm, alone in a forest with the wind rustling through the trees, or even walking outside on an April morning only to find the most beautiful day April has ever produced, your heart moves. Something happens inside you. It is as if you are looking for something, but you don’t know what. And then you experience nature in some meaningful way and it hits you: this place that I live is bigger than me, more wonderful, majestic, beautiful, and wondrous than I usually remember in my day to day life. God’s power comes to us through nature, and even though it doesn’t always move us profoundly, it is always there. In fact, that is one of the more life altering realities that should affect the way we live…
God is always governing, moving, and reigning over his created world. It turns by his command, the ground is nourished by his direction, and even the doe gives birth to the fawn by his power. Think about that fact that you go to sleep every night (presumably). In fact, whole nations lay their heads down at roughly the same time. Creation is sustained, and the sun comes up yet again the next morning. By the word of his power God Almighty upholds all things. How must this change the way we live? Consider the way you order your time. Do you rest? Do you receive the Sabbath rest from the Lord with joy and delight? For many of us Americans, “stopping” is difficult. It’s against the grain of all we’ve ever known. But hear what some fellow named William Willimon offers. “Sabbath keeping is a publicly enacted sign of our trust that God keeps the world, therefore we do not have to. God welcomes our labors, but our contributions to the world have their limits. If even God trusted creation enough to be confident that the world would continue while God rested, so should we.”
Soak up the power of God over creation in your daily life. Don’t believe the lie that you can work yourself in to worth. Trust the God who upholds all things. Trust God to be God, and enjoy the freedom of living for such a Creator. And remember what the hymn-writer says as you go throughout your week:
This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Kyle