Part 1– CREATION
Google presented me with an optical illusion. I strained to see; I squinted, even trying to imagine the hidden picture. I failed to see what, apparently, was right before my eyes.
Then I recently read this: “HOLY BIBLE – believe it or not; this book is being played out right before our eyes…” This is no illusion; every day God is speaking with clarity to us.
Right before our eyes God makes Himself known. The Bible tells us that He speaks through:
Creation.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-14)
Rural living makes appreciating God’s creation easy. Day and night we see the expanse of the heavens above us – the sky, the clouds, the sun, the moon, the starry galaxies. We look in awe at how the Divine artist has placed and sustains each in its place.
I love this harvest season; it continually speaks to us of the goodness of God to all. For our benefit, right before our eyes, God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) God makes things grow.
In seeing how we are designed as humans we see God the Creator who longs to connect with us. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth…he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything else… God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out to Him and find Him though He is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:1-34)
The Bible speaks of having eyes that do not see or ears that do not hear. Some choose not to believe Him. The Bible speaks clearly of this UNBELIEF:
“The wrath of God is being revealed against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the TRUTH by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:1-32)
This TRUTH – believe it or not, is being played out right before our eyes in creation. Being dis-illusioned with the God who exists is often due to simply not believing the evidence He presents.
The Living God is no optical illusion. He daily reveals Himself. I believe His evidence. I believe the Bible. I believe Jesus. It is clear that I am loved, longed for, and of worth to Him.
“Are you with me?”
Pastor Bill Terris