Word for Wednesday… Evidence (Part 1)
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…
Romans 1:20
While sitting on the front porch of one of our homebound members yesterday, I learned a few things about God’s creation. First, he directed my attention to the Robins who nest in a nearby tree, pointing out their amazing eyesight demonstrated in their ability to locate worms, and the way they work as a team to raise and care for their young. Then he invited me to consider some yet-to-bloom flowers in one of his flowerbeds, and how their bulbs are coated with a sticky sugary substance that attracts ants. It is the removal of this substance by the ants that allows the bulbs to open and the beautiful blooms to spring forth. As we reflected together on these natural wonders we agreed they were evidence of an even more wonderful creator.
The two Scripture passages quoted above express the idea that God’s creation points us toward him, revealing his glory, handiwork, power and wisdom. The author of the apocryphal book, Wisdom, conveys a similar message. He writes, in reference to the things God has made, “And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them” (Wisdom 13:4). All these things were meant to make us mindful of God and worship him. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. We human beings have a tendency to worship the things that are made, instead of worshiping the God that made them. We may not worship the sun, moon and stars like our ancestors, but we do often worship other human beings, or even ourselves, and we too are created things who owe our existence to our Creator.
Like my friend I mentioned earlier, take a break from the busyness of life and spend some time paying attention to God’s creation, marveling at the things he has made. Walk around your yard in the cool of the evening, making note of the new growth on the trees, shrubs and flowers. Listen to the birds sing. Stare deeply at the intricacies and inner workings of the world around you. May your awe and amazement translate into the worship of the God who brought it all into being.
