(Friends: during this series,
the messages may frequently be longer than usual due to the subject matter. Thanks for your patience, and I think
you will find the considerations interesting, and hopefully, helpful in our walk
with the Lord. Glen)
Part 9 – “A Beautiful
Creator”
The Bible unveils
a personal God who can be known, who desires to be known, and who must be known.
“Call unto Me, and I
will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not”
(Jeremiah 33:3).
A large portion of the
“great and mighty things” our Lord desires to show us involves Himself. The Apostle Paul declared that he had
“suffered the loss of all things” for the most sublime of all reasons: “that I
may know Him” (Philippians 3:9-10;
emphasis added). Paul knew that the
true source of human contentment involves not the knowledge of an admittedly
wondrous creation, but rather of an even more wondrous Creator. Things exist to be appreciated and
enjoyed, but even more, to motivate and enhance relationship with the One from
whom “every good gift and every perfect gift” descends (James 1:17).
“The invisible things
of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things which are made, even His eternal power and godhead” (Romans 1:20).
Knowing the person of God
involves the awareness that He purposes to reveal qualities and characteristics
of Himself in the things He made.
The order, complexity and intricacy of the universe reveal the brilliance
of His mind. The beauty of things
reveals His creativity, artistry, and most importantly, His loving desire to
bless us with a life that involves far more than merely existence. Indeed, God could have made food without
flavor, flowers without fragrance, scenes without color, and sound without
music. He chose otherwise because
He is, at heart, a person of “joy unspeakable” (I Peter 1:8). He wants us to know and enjoy this truth
about Him as a beautiful creation speaks of a beautiful Creator.
Several years ago, during a trip to
Boston, Massachusetts, our family attended a performance of the Boston Pops
Symphony. John Williams conducted a
concert that included much of the music for which he is famous. From the first notes, I found myself
enraptured by the beauty that sounded forth from an amazing conductor and
amazing musicians. Symphony Hall of
Boston is nearly perfect acoustically, as well as being visually beautiful, and
the experience was one of those once in a lifetime moments that you know you
will never forget.
Thankfully, I was keenly
aware on this occasion that the beauty of the moment did not originate in human
hearts and minds. Certainly, people
were involved, and the musicians had doubtless spent a lifetime preparing to
perform so skillfully and artistically.
Nevertheless, throughout the performance, one thought graced my mind and
filled my heart: “Lord, You are so
beautiful!” The sound, the
scene, the atmosphere and the wondrous moment shared with my family spoke of the
Giver of such an unforgettable experience, and of His wondrous heart. Indeed, the gift was of such magnitude
that I shed many tears during the performance, and I shed them now in
remembrance.
“The whole earth is
full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3).
The universe, even in its present sin-damaged condition, comprises a
gallery of art purposed to display the heart and mind of the Artist. As we live in the expectation that God
purposes to tell us much about Himself through the things He made, the Holy
Spirit will draw us into the person of our Lord. Therein we will discover wonders of
indescribable goodness and beauty.
Therein we will know God, and
therein our hearts will find their fulfillment in this most sublime of all
purposes…
“Thou wilt show me the path of
life: in Thy presence is
fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
(Psalm 16:11)
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