The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"The Things That Are Made"
"For 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; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God" (Romans 1:20-21).
Creation teems with the presence and revelation of its Creator. Earthly "things that are made" serve as vivid expressions of our heavenly God and His truth, glories that will be "clearly seen" - unless one chooses to "glorify Him not as God." Unto those, "to them it is not given" to see such wonder (Matthew 13:11). Unto those who do seek to honor Him, the Lord beckons, "Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).
Actually, even the most godly among us behold only glimpses of the wonder that could be known were it not for the effects of sin. No less than the Apostle Paul confessed of himself and all others, "we see through a glass darkly" (I Corinthians 13:12). Our capacity to realize and understand God's revelation of Himself in creation is presently quite limited, despite how clearly the glory shines. Again, even Paul acknowledged of himself and all, "If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:2). Thus, whatever of the wonders we have known of our Lord in His world, as inspired and illuminated by our Lord in His Word, we do well to acknowledge with both humility and expectation that our journey of discovery has just begun.
"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:22-24).
We could all have known more of God than we have by His self revelation in creation. This rightly humbles us. However, our primary sensibility must be glad expectation: we can know more of God than we have by His self revelation in creation. Guided by the authority of His Word, our hearts, minds, and sensibilities can better behold our Lord's glory in His world today than ever we have. Indeed, we do well to confess, "I have inexcusably missed so much." From this contrite acknowledgement, we proceed, "However, I do not have to remain in such unnecessary ignorance. Today is a new day in which the sights, sounds, fragrances, flavors, textures, and wondrous complexity of how things work can reveal to me the glory of God." In a creation alive with the presence of its Creator, whose great desire involves the revelation of Himself, glories await those who expect to see His "eternal power and godhead" by "the things that are made." Regardless of how little or how much we have discovered, more ever awaits of the Artist and the Engineer who can be known by the beauty and complexity of His creation.
"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."
(Psalm 33:5)
"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."
(Psalm 19:1-3)
Weekly Memory Verses
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11)
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