Glorious!
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1
This time of year, I spend a large amount of time taking in the beauty of God’s creation. After a winter filled with death and decay, Spring comes along and proclaims the majesty of God with a riot of colors and textures. New life abounds, we see the little woodland creatures begin to raise their young and the earth bursts forth in a palette of colors that only the Almighty could have put together. Every year, I think I’m going to watch the leaves form on the trees carefully, and I see the buds, but it seems that the trees just grow full leaves overnight. Earlier this week I stood outdoors with friends and enjoyed the canopy that had seemingly developed overnight and covered us with a cool shade.
Most Christians take time to acknowledge our Creator during the Spring. How can we not? The beauty of His creation is overwhelming. As warmth spreads through the land, we hurry outdoors to enjoy it. Perhaps it is the desolation of winter that makes the beauty of the spring stand out so much. Without the long and dreary winter, would we appreciate the beauty of Spring?
I wonder, if due to familiarity, we forget we each have the ability to hold in our hands the most magnificent creation of God. We, especially as people gifted a life in America, each typically have at least one copy of God’s Word in our homes. Do we take that gift for granted? If we were forced to live without it for a time (much like we suffer through the monochrome dreariness of winter) would we appreciate it more? We have the living Word of God in our homes… are we enjoying and taking advantage of that gift?
To some it’s just a book. But, to the converted, it is so very much more. It is the perfect and incontrovertible Word of God. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) It is a living document, forever relevant and capable of changing hearts and minds.
We look on the beauty of the spring and we see the visible evidence of God’s power, but if we take time to read His Word, we can feel the evidence of His power changing our very lives. It has the ability to bring to light our failings, to point us in the right direction. It has the ability to lead us in the path of righteousness. The Bible is a love letter to us from God, through reading it we see the length to which He is willing to go to bring us into a right relationship with Him. When we realize that, although we fail continually, He still desires us to come to Him, that realization can be life-changing. When we spend time in His Word and see that His personality is multifaceted, and that everything He does is done out of a perfect love for us - one that seeks our good, even when we don’t realize what that good is, we grow to love Him more and more.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11
His Word is indeed perfect! It draws us to Him, brings wisdom to those that love Him. When, through the work of the Holy Spirit, our eyes are opened to the incredible hope we have in Him, we become full of joy to the point of overflow. And, as we grow to understand, we only desire more and more of His truth. Take advantage of this glorious gift of God, every single day!
