Romans 1:18-20 - The Revelation of God in Creation.
Romans 1:18-20: The Revelation of God in Creation.
Romans 1:18-20 (NLT) But God shows his anger from heaven against
all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their
wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious
to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen
the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see
his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they
have no excuse for not knowing God.
Looking at nature, we learn about God's invisible attributes -
his magnificence, his intelligence, his eternal power that is
enormous enough to put massive stars in place. We learn about God's
divine nature. We sense that there is a God who is higher than the
visible world. Whenever we look at the wisdom and beauty of creation and
honestly search our hearts, we can know God is there. And at that point,
we have a choice: Will we seek him? When we do seek him, he
promises that we will find him. [NIV Once A Day Bible re Rom. 1:18-20]
In his poverty, Nicolas Herman enlisted in the army to earn a
living and fought in the Thirty Years' War. One winter during his term
of service, he came upon a barren tree. Because it was winter, the
tree had no leaves and no fruit, but in the spring it would be
resurrected and flourish again. As Herman stared at the tree, he grasped the
gospel with unusual clarity. He realized the enormity of God's grace
and the certainty of resurrection. And feeling barren like the tree,
Herman knew he could look forward to the change of seasons that would
bring fruitfulness to his life. God's providence would grant him life.
Perhaps not many people come to Christ based on a visual
picture in nature, but the message was clear enough for Herman to see
the gospel story: death, resurrection, and the sovereignty of God.
He was profoundly changed. After his military service, he joined a
monastery as a low-ranking servant and took the name Lawrence of the
Resurrection. We know him today as Brother Lawrence, a man who practiced the
presence of God so profoundly that even cardinals and bishops came to
listen to his wisdom.
Some people dismiss the idea that God might speak through
nature, but Paul was right about God's invisible attributes being
clearly visible in the things He has made. His creation is His
expression, so naturally He can speak through it. Nature is full of parables
of God's story and His purposes, and discerning eyes can discover
them: caterpillars, cocoons, and butterflies; rainbows; water falling
from heaven to produce fruit; seed sprouting differently according to
the soil it falls in; and many more. Ask Him. He'll show you a
multitude of messages in the things He has made.
Lord, give me eyes to see Your parables and promises in the
beauty and intricacies of Your creation. Your glory really does cover
the earth. Speak to me through what You have made. [The One Year
Hearing His Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
A man says the view from Looking Glass Falls helped save his
life.
Winter created sights you could dream about, while the
rushing water provides sounds you could fall asleep to.
"It's real soothing. It is," Dan Dry said, who came from
Haywood County.
Under the sun, the ice melts and refreezes into something
otherworldly.
"Even in the bitter cold, it's beautiful," Dry said.
People came from all over to take pictures, hoping to capture
a lasting memory.
Dry already has his.
"I have a photo of her standing right here," he said.
Dry showed us a picture of his daughter Jaden at Looking
Glass from 2008. It was taken during a visit.
"When you lose your only child, it changes your life forever,
you're never the same person," Dry said.
Jaden died in 2010 in a car accident. She was 17.
"You question everything when something like that hits, you
really do, it's just so hard," Dry said.
After his daughter's death, Dry wasn't sure he wanted to keep
living. A year ago he moved to Western Carolina from Louisiana. Looking
Glass is his happy place.
"We moved here, because we have nothing but good memories up
here," Dry said.
The views once provided Dry with a revelation. To him, they
are a reminder of God's existence, which he questioned after Jaden's
death.
"You're just so angry when something like that happens, and
now I look back, I'm grateful for the 17 years I had with her," Dry
said.
His photographs don't have negatives, only proof.
"What an amazing thing God has done with this planet," Dry
said while looking at the waterfall.
He comes here searching for joy without Jaden.
"It's still a journey that I still travel every day without
her," Dry said.
Dry says he is sharing his story because he wants people in
grief to have an outlet.
He has also started a bereavement support group at the Maggie
Valley United Methodist Church called Hearts for Bereaved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZXKv0pBzyg
CLOSING THOUGHT
I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system,
through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.
[George Washington Carver]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2007/20070830-2315.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080714-1534.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Power of the Gospel Testimonies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVyxqAV3-Y&feature=youtu.be
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Guides:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Or Send Request for Bible Studies to Fred Gibbs at:
fggibbs@aBible.com
