Amazing Creator!
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4)
Recently I came across a message board outside a public school that said, “This summer watch more sunsets and less Netflix.” A likely message for the students heading to summer break. It also reminded me of something my mother used to say to my siblings and I when we were tending to hang around inside on sunny days. She would say don’t waste the day indoors when there’s much to experience in nature outdoors. Now that I think about it, maybe this was really a stewardship message – getting us to care for the yard?
Isn’t it just so easy to get caught up in everyday stuff – focusing so much on the things that God says will pass away? I think the message on that board is essentially saying this – don’t let the distractions of the day be so consuming that you can’t take time to appreciate the wonder of God’s majestic creation.
No matter the season, we have an amazing treasure in nature in which we get to see God’s hand. Every sunrise and sunset, the blooming flowers, the fruits of our gardens, all orchestrated by our Creator. Soon we’ll see the beauty even in the leaves on the trees as they signal a turn to fall. God is a master artist!
This side of heaven I’ll never understand all the creativity it took to make the world and all its wonders out of nothing. I must admit, I don’t enjoy all things I encounter in His masterpiece. I could do without some of the things of creation. For example, I don’t like spiders and snakes. Not a fan of weeds or poison ivy in my gardens – what possible purpose do they serve? And what about these annoying and destructive lantern flies?
That said, nature is a wonderful reminder of how small we really are. Have you ever camped out, with a clear night sky, and just look upon the stars and wonder how this all came to be? So many stars that I can’t possibly count them all – yet each created by the hand of our Creator.
Billions of people occupy this earth and each one has the touch of God to be an individual creation – purposed and eternally loved. May we make time to enjoy all that He has made and use that time to glorify God who made it all.
Gracious and Loving Father, we give You thanks for Your amazing heavens and earth, and for Your glory which is evident in all that we see. May our lives honor You, our Creator, every day. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.