Seeing Creation

I have been a student of the Scriptures my entire life.  As a pastor I teach a lot of Bible studies, something I enjoy immensely.  I believe the Bible is a very special book and that Christians should read and study the Scriptures on a regular basis.  Since the Bible is God’s revelation to us, one tip I often share with people is that when they read a passage they should pause to ask “What can I learn about God in this text?”   God seeks to make Himself known to us in His Word but if we fail to ask this question we might miss learning what God wants us to discover.

I think the same advice applies to God’s “second book,” the book of Creation.  As we observe the world around us—whether it be an animal, plant, or vista—we should pause to ask the question, “What can I learn about God from what is before me?”  Failing to ask this question may keep us from learning something God is trying to teach us about Himself through His Creation.

By being careful observers of Creation we can learn much about the Creator.  We quickly learn, for example, that God values diversity.  This is evident in the wonderful variety found in Creation.  He  has made lots of different animals and plants.  Some are large, some are small.  Some are colorful, others are not.  The God revealed in Creation is not into sameness; He is into diversity.

We learn by observing nature that God is compassionate.  He has provided each species with a purpose and that which it needs to survive.  The more I observe and come to understand the world the more I am amazed at God’s love and compassion.

In order to get the most out of a Scripture passage one has to invest a good bit of time and prayerful reflection.  Commentaries may need to be consulted, word studies might need to be pursued, and you may have to refer to any number of reference books.  It is much the same when it comes to seeing God in Creation.  You may have to put forth a good bit of effort to learn what He wants to teach you.  This may mean turning to field guides to learn more about the flowers you have seen or the creatures you have observed.  It may take watching some nature documentaries on television or reading a few good natural history books.  Learning about God, whether in the Bible or Creation, takes time and effort but it is well worth it.  It also takes remembering to ask the right question: “What can I learn about God from what is before me?”

–Chuck

(Whether it’s a field of asters or a lamb finding security near its mother, Creation has much to teach us about God.)