Wednesday, May 9, 2018

"Clearly Seen"

(I usually leave the writing about our hikes to Frances.  However, I thought I'd share a few considerations this week of our recent journey in Grayson Highlands National Park, Virginia.  Thanks, Glen.)


"Clearly Seen"

   
    It is difficult to imagine ascending to the top of a mountain and looking upon a scene of grandeur such as we viewed in Grayson Highlands without thinking of God.  The wonders of creation plainly reveal the greater wonders of its Creator, or as the Apostle Paul exulted, "the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead" (Romans 1:20).  





    As I wrote the words above and then viewed the photograph included, I confessed to the Lord that I hadn't acknowledged, praised, and thanked Him enough last week for the privilege of gazing upon His glory from such a beautiful vantage point.  I then thought about the fact that some people do not acknowledge, praise, and thank Him at all when experiencing such wonder.  They doubtless feel similar feelings as do believers, being amazed by the beauty, power, and grandeur.  The fascination does not lead to faith, however, but rather to the dark and empty void of ignoring the obvious.  "That which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath showed it unto them" (Romans 1:19).

    The issue is spiritual and moral rather than intellectual.  Unbelievers deny the Obvious and that which the Spirit of God and the creation of God plainly declare deeply within their hearts.  They do so because the scenes on top of mountains directly state and imply the reality of the God who dwells in the Heavens.  Moreover, that God beckons us to response, the response of faith and submission to Him.  Acknowledging created beauty demands that we acknowledge the supremacy of the Creator.  The Lord Jesus starkly stated the indictment: "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).  It is impossible to not see the Creator in His creation.  It is more than possible, however, to think and to say that we do not see Him in order to ostensibly escape responsibility to Him.  Again, even as a believer, I failed to fully embrace the wonder of God in the wonder of His creation.  Some miss the glory completely, eliciting prayer in my heart that both I and others will views scenes of created glory as tangible evidence of a glorious Creator.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."
(Psalm 19:1-4)

Weekly Memory Verse
   "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."
(Psalm 37:5)
     

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