God’s Glory in the Created World
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is FULL of the goodness of the LORD (Psalm 33:5). The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).
I recognize fully that immorality, violence, pain, tragedy, deception, ugliness, and all kinds of evil fill our world. Yet, as you open your eyes at what God has created, you cannot help but have your heart full with praise for the beauty and magnificence of His handiwork. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24:1). There is an incredible awesomeness in the mountains – the waterfalls, rivers, lakes, trees, wild life and so much more that you cannot help thinking about the majesty and power of God.
From our home, we watch the characteristics of the different animals and birds here on the mountain. We are amazed at the hummingbirds hovering in mid-air with their wings flapping about 50 times a second and they move back and forth across the yard so fast. The blue jays have the exact same characteristics as the stellar jays in the west. All of the different birds that are around here all have characteristics unique to their species and those characteristics never change because that is the way God made them. All of them have exact days in which their eggs hatch because of God’s design. The warbling Vireo makes a lot of noise but you do not see him very often because he does not want to be seen. The wild turkeys are extremely humorous and during mating season, in our community, you can count on a number of them attacking your car.
There is a certain pleasure that comes from viewing God’s marvelous creation. God created mankind with the ability to draw obvious conclusions from effect to cause. The mountains, the oceans, the birds, the animals and so many more things tend to communicate loudly the glory of God. Certainly all of these aspects of nature are good and perfect gifts from the Father of lights (James 1:17). All of creation proclaims the existence, power and glory of God and in order to reject what God has done, man must hold (hold down or suppress) the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
To us, it does not make sense at all, but man even rejects what his own conscience reveals. Somehow, people think by denying that there is a Creator, they will not be accountable to Him. What a surprise awaits them at the moment of their physical death. The whole concept of evolution is so foolish and ridiculous affirming the work of the devil (John 8:44; II Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 12:9).
Like Job of old, I know that my redeemer liveth (John 19:25a) and we need to praise Him for all of His wonderful gifts to us. The beauty of His creation is something for which we ought to praise Him.
Pray for those atheists whom you know. Not only do they need the LORD, but also they cannot enjoy the wonders of God’s creation as we do. When they do see the wonder and beauty of it, they have no one to thank for it!
George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.