God’s Gift to All
Did you know there was a solar eclipse last week? Maybe you were like me and went outside in great anticipation of seeing something amazing, only to be a little disappointed. That’s because in Brisbane we experienced only a partial eclipse. But for those in Exmouth WA, they witnessed a spectacular sight, a total solar eclipse.
I listened to an interview with a reporter who was there to see it. She spoke just moments after the eclipse and the wonder and emotion in her voice was obvious. She spoke about the drop in temperature that occurred just before the moon began to pass directly across the sun and of the eerie quiet and stillness in the birds and wildlife. The word that she kept using to describe the whole experience was ‘awesome!’
As I listened to the reporter speak about the effect the eclipse had on her and those around her, I found myself saying aloud, ‘It’s God’s handiwork! He is revealing His glory!’ And I prayed that God would speak into the hearts of those people who marvelled at what they had just seen and that they would acknowledge the One who rules and reigns over all things, including the natural world.
Scripture clearly teaches that God reveals Himself through the natural order. Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made”. God’s glory and power can be seen in a sunset, a storm, the night sky, a solar eclipse.
And this self-revelation is active and ongoing. We read in Psalm 19:1-2, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Notice the active verbs and the present tense (e.g., pours, reveals). Nature continually tells us something of God.
The Belgic Confession, a summary of our Christian beliefs based on Scripture, states that “…by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to see clearly the invisible things of God, even his everlasting power and divinity.”
God generously and graciously reveals knowledge of Himself to all people, in all places, at all times. What a beautiful gift from a loving God!
Can I encourage you to make time to be outside; to enjoy the gentle breeze, the amazing colours of the rainbow, the intricate design of a flower, the vastness of the night sky. And as we receive God’s revelation, let’s turn to Him in praise and wonder for who He is and all that He has done.
Caroline
For further reflection: Psalm 8, Psalm 19:1-6, Psalm 104:24-35, Acts 14:15-17, Matthew 5:45
