The cool mountain rain drums against the taught nylon tent above my head as I lay on my dry sleeping bag inside, waiting for the storm to pass. The lightning plays a psychedelic light show on the fabric dome as the thunder rolls from the top of the mountain to the valley below. I half imagine myself as an early settler to the area, wondering what it is that is making the frightening noises and disturbing my peaceful slumber.
As I lay quietly, a tiny ant nibbles at my ankle. My mind is set spinning by the science of God’s great creation. I wonder how I can hear the thunder and the rush of the wind and rain in the trees. What is it that allows me to see the flashes of light in the darkness? Why can I feel the ant? How can I even think about the things that I think about? Yes, I have faith that the neurons, synapses and endocrine systems are all working in symphony, because of the science, but that simple faith gives way to the deeper faith of the order created out of chaos. The thought smashes through my brain that My God and Creator, with the stroke of His hand, encoded the very spiral strands of DNA within EVERY CELL inside me to see, feel, hear and do! The precise and delicate program He has written makes me who I am, instead of being a mindless ant. In 1637, the French philosopher René Descartes wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” God said, “I Am that I Am” (Exodus 3:14), which I like to read as, “I AM God and you are not.” All the thinking and reasoning will not make a person exist, unless God made it so. Here is a brief description of our Creator from the words of the Bible: John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. When the weather clears and the storm clouds fade away into the darkness, I leave the fabric dome of my shelter to witness the dome of the night sky. The magnificence of His artwork is splashed upon the darkness. I imagine myself launching out into His great universe, away from the problems of this world to seek His face in the infinity of space. While I cannot fathom the infinite size of the universe, as big as that is, I know God is not only its creator, but He is bigger. I look backwards to my home, but realize even the star around which the Earth revolves is engulfed in a sea of stars. It makes me feel so small. How is it that the One who is capable of this kind of work can still know me in the smallest detail? It is Jesus, the One described in John 1 and Colossians 1, who said in Matthew 10:30, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Recently a local preacher reminded me that believers in Jesus will inherit all that belongs to God. Then the preacher opened my eyes by reminding me that this includes the moon, planets and the stars, too! Heaven is not going to be a boring time. I’m going to visit ALL of God’s creation, even to galaxies that have never been seen by the very best of man’s creations – even if it takes a billion years! Psalm 8:3-5 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Thank you Lord, for coming to this little speck of a planet to tell us of your gift of salvation through Your sacrifice. Thank you Lord, for giving me a mind that can understand and a humbling faith that allows me to see. Thank you Lord, for dying on the cross to allow me to enter into your presence and inherit your infinite creation. To God be the Glory! Pastor Jay Merritt
1 Comment
|
AuthorPastor Jay Merritt writes about God in every day observations. Archives
August 2013
Categories |