How often do we really take the time to just slow down and reflect on the wonders around us? We are constantly surrounded by a whirring, humming world of sounds and distraction. We spend most of our time indoors. We wake in the morning in our warm, comfy beds, in our warm comfy homes. We climb in our warm, comfy cars to go to our warm, comfy office/store/shop. Then, we turn around and return in our warm comfy cars to our warm, comfy homes to start the routine again the next day.
When was the last time you paused, however briefly, on the walk from your car to your house and just looked up at the starts? Have you ever wondered at the sheer enormity of the heavens? I know, when I just glance at the canopy of stars that cover us, it's easy to just see a two dimensional sky. It's easy to forget the shear immensity of what I'm looking at. The fact that I am unable to count, on a clear night, every star in the sky. Or the fact that it is not simply a two dimensional painting, but that it has a third dimension, depth, that is measured in hundreds of thousands of light years. Or have you ever considered the physical laws the universe adheres to that make it possible for scientists to predict the rising and setting of the sun, the ability to tell us when the next eclipse will be, or the great meteor shower display will be. Those laws are there because there is a God of creation, a God of order, who placed them there. He controls all by the word of His mouth.
The writer of Psalm 19 knew. He knew that if you need to hear from God, one of the best things to do is to study His handiwork: The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
Job, in the midst of his epic time of trial, had to be reminded by God that there were things bigger than Job and that there was Someone bigger in charge. The Message puts it this way: "Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God's miracle-wonders! Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms, how he piles up the cumulus clouds— all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind?Why, you don't even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day, so how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?"
There are so many wonders we pass by and never take the time to look at. We are in a hurry to get to work, to get to the store, to get to our next appointment. We rush to and fro and never allow any kind of relationship to develop between ourselves and the God who created us for fellowship with Him.
What are some other "miracle-wonders" that God has performed/created that we never take notice of? Personally, I see them all around me. The computer I'm typing on, for example. Sure, I know that God did not reach down, touch the dirt and there was a computer there. But, what about the intellect given to the folks who designed the thing? God given intellect! And the physical laws in place that allow this computer to work the same way every time I fire it up? God ordained! How about when you look in the mirror? What do you see? Or, how about this question instead - How do you see? The eye is an engineering feat in itself and yet we take it for granted. What, you say - it evolved that way? Do you realize how many things had to happen in order to have the seeing eye "evolve"? The answer is overwhelming, mathematically, that it didn't happen, but if you persist, I'll leave you to your own "faith" that it did. How about the whole ecological cycle and the balance it needs to survive, thrive and maintain life? Do you really think it arose by chance? The circumstances have to be so precise in order to support life as we know it, I just don't see how anyone can not attribute it to God. Somehow, there are though; I guess we'll never understand each other ...
I guess my encouragement this week is this: like Job, I ask you to slow down and look around. Marvel in God's handiwork. Let Him amaze you. If you have a hard time slowing down on your own, come join us on a hike. It's so much easier to do things when you have a group to encourage you. If you're saying, "I can slow down, but I just have a hard time knowing what to look for or what it means." Come join us on a hike. Someone is sure to have been moved by something God has done and would be more than willing to share what they delight in. If you have a hard time feeling like there is any hope, come join us on a hike. It's nice to be reminded that even though we "don't even know how to stay cool on a sweltering hot day," there is One who controls the skies and everything in them ...
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