Nature astounds me. The trees in autumn are so wonderful to watch, I can get lost in watching a single leaf fall to the ground. And the fact that nature, from the earth, to animals, to nature as a whole, while not predictable, follows such a beautiful, harmonious pattern makes me understand, at least for a moment or two, those that worship nature.
Now we know to worship the Creator, not the created. That God himself orchestrated the cosmos, the wind and waves, the leaf I follow to the ground. but the bible clearly states that the heavens display His handiwork. That if we don’t give God his full worship, that even the rocks will cry out. I have often pondered this. Many hours have thought and prayed, “Lord, let me worship you in your glory, and keep the rocks silent.” But tonight, driving home, through the wonder that is the Pacific Northwest tonight, while listening to a sermon on God’s authority, I think I finally caught a glimpse of what this all means.
“And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to it kind, on the earth.” and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation…(Gen. 1:11-12a) The earth sings God’s glory and it’s God’s glory that people hear and worship. They are enticed by what the earth does, but miss why the earth does so. It is because it’s creator deemed it so. The earth pronounces God’s glory because it is doing what it was commanded. Because in doing what God commanded, it can show true obedience to the One who has ultimate control. It can reflect the Master. That is how nature has it’s power. It’s in the obedience to the master that it’s true purpose is revealed. And it’s that way with us.
Why does the blossoming apple tree hold our fascination? How is it that even though we know that after harvest season come winter and snow, and yet we still find beauty in the flakes falling??? One could think that their very predictability would cause us to lose interest in the whole process. But it’s the very predictable pattern of God’s creation that sings His praise. The wind and the waves, the snow and apple tree are subject to God, and do exactly what He commanded at the beginning of time, and that’s it. They do what He wants, regardless of their own will. Now the apple tree doesn’t have will, but we do. When do we reflect the glory of our God?!?! When we are subject to Him, and are doing the will of our loving father, regardless of our own will. Instead of garnering favor for ourselves, like we try to from time to time, let’s think of the apple tree, the dandelion, the oak losing it’s leaves every year. They don’t shout about the mighty acts they have accomplished, they simply show the world, all who see, what God instructed them of, and thereby give glory to their creator.
In every day, there are times when we feel the Spirit calling us to something. How about we don’t fight it, but like the snowflake falling, or the rose blossoming, we follow the authority of our Creator, and do His will, giving Him the glory He deserves. And keep those rocks silent one more day.
Hope Holencik