"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 1:20ff]
“For this is what the LORD says -- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited -- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other,” [Isaiah 45:18]
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it -- the LORD is his name: 3 `Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know',” [Jeremiah 33:2-3]
My family and I have just returned from vacation. During those days, we saw such remarkable sights that words cannot convey. Great rocks and mountain chains, valleys, waterfalls, rainbows, wildlife and the ocean and all of these sights convey the same thought –a thought that invokes feelings from deep within the soul: How great is the majesty, splendor and power of our Almighty God and Creator! He has made all things good. It’s a remarkable thought that the world we currently see is actually a corrupted world, different from the world that God originally created and called “very good.”
The world has endured a catastrophic, global flood and drastic climate changes. Evidence points to a time when the world had a utopian atmosphere, a uniform temperature and a very peaceful climate –but that has all changed. It has been pounded by large objects from outer space (creating great craters) and has shifted from its original axis –drifting very slowly from its original orbit, causing the length of a year to continuously grow slightly longer. All ancient calendars seem to point to a time when a year was consistently 360 days and months were synchronous with the moon’s orbit, creating a harmonious calendar of 12 30-day months. Something changed. The perfect harmony of the original, “very good” world has been subjected to such brutal conditions that we can truthfully say that life still exists on this planet only by the mercy of God. Though our world has undergone such tremendous changes, we can still see the handiwork and wisdom of an Amazing Master Craftsman.
Most of the mountains are the result (or even centuries of after effects) of the Great Flood. When the great waters of the deep (which had previously sustained all the plant life of the earth by coming up through the ground) forcefully ripped the planet apart, and the great firmament of water that was in the sky (which had likely filtered all harmful rays from the sun out) collapsed (causing the first rain), the conditions of this planet, already cursed by Adam’s sin, were forever changed. It’s hard to believe that the world that we now see is only a shadow of the amazing beauty that once existed here. But the beauty that remains still sings the song of its All-powerful Designer. And we are part of God’s creation – we were created to sing the same song.
Take a moment to stop and marvel at God. Stop what you’re doing long enough to take in the infinite and eternal qualities of God, evident from what He has made. Stop and look at the sky. Watch a sunset. Gaze upon the beauty of God’s creation and allow the truth within to talk to your soul –and produce a new song of praise. God created the infinite number of stars in the sky to humble us and lead us to marvel at His great love and concern for us. As David said in Psalm 8:
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
Indeed, what an awesome thought: God created such great and awesome things that we are humbled when we consider them –and yet, He considered us important enough to Him to send His One and Only Son to redeem us from our subjugation to sin, death and corruption. It’s overwhelming and centers us on an inevitable truth: God is and always shall be God. Who can we compare Him to? Who is His equal? How can we express His Greatness or show gratitude to Him in such a way that might be acceptable? Who are we that He would even take the time to listen to us or think about us? And some people say “there is no God?” Based on what? I don’t at all find it hard to believe in God; I find it very hard not to believe! To those who humble themselves and accept what is evident, the answer is clear: He is the I AM THAT I AM. And if what we currently see causes us to feel a sense of awe and humility, what feelings will be fostered within us when we see Him as He truly is! When we see the New Heavens, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem, what shall our souls sing then? It’s more than we could ever consider, believe, hope or imagine. No eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has in store for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. I can’t begin to know what that New World will look like, but I know it will out-shine this one. And that… is a very humbling thought…
On the Solid Rock we stand!
George