Thankful for God’s Creation

The fact of Creation is one of the most amazing things to think about. For an infinite time in the past, before anything else existed, there was only God. Then in an instant, there was something else. We don’t know the details of this event and probably couldn’t comprehend them if we did.

The Bible begins with these familiar words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2)

Unlike all the universe that he made, God is eternal. Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

God had no beginning and will have no end. Things we know in this world and universe seem to be always changing, but God is always the same. James 1:17 refers to God as “… the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” His promises and power are never diminished, never less than what they have always been and are today. His word is always true as our reliable guide for daily living. It assures all his redeemed children of eternal joy in his presence.

When God made the universe, it started by his spoken word. Genesis 1 continues in verses 3 through 5, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” Where there was darkness, light started to shine!

The whole Triune God was active in creation. God the Father spoke, the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters. Even Jesus Christ as God the Son was part of creating all things. John 1:1-3, was speaking of God the Son when it said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Our Creator made all that’s in the universe to declare his glory. That’s the purpose of it. It’s not here for his entertainment, or so that we, his creatures, can get things. It was so that his nature and wonder can be displayed, and that he would be worshipped. Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” As God’s children we need to appreciate and point out God’s glory all around us.

The unbeliever can’t appreciate what the universe tells us so clearly. We are a fallen human race since the fall of Adam in Eden. Romans 3:10-12 summarizes a sobering and hard biblical truth: “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’ ”

The Astronomer sees the planets, stars, nebula, and galaxies. He measures the light from them, and measures the movements of them all, but if he doesn’t see the glory of the Creator in them, he refuses to admit to the most important data that’s clearly there.

Romans 1:18-21 makes this clear. There it says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

The Biologist can classify the birds into all their species and sub-species by their Latin names. But those who know Christ can also see them as beautiful creatures that declare the Glory of God, their Creator.

To unlock these wonders the person needs to turn to Christ in repentance and faith. Only when restored to fellowship with God by the work of the Savior can the sin distorted mind see what’s really there — a universe that’s pouring out the wonders of the Creator day and night.

There’s an amazing message in the skies, and on all the earth. It’s the wonder of the Creator displayed in all things all the time.

Light itself is an amazing tool for God’s revelation. It’s the first thing God tells us he created. Out of nothing but the intention of God came this radiant energy that still somewhat mystifies us. He made it to display the things he made, and he gave us eyes to receive the message.

It’s speed alone is unimaginable to us. It travels through space at 186,282 miles per second, that’s over 670 million miles per hour. In a small building just 40′ wide, in one second a beam of light would travel from one side to the other 24,589,224 times.

God made all the wonders of the universe, and of this whole world. How could we doubt such a powerful and detailed God? If he can call all the universe into existence out of nothing but his own desire to do so, he can certainly handle what ever comes our way to test us, shape us, and challenge us.

Think of that familiar verse in Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

When you give thanks to God for something he has provided for you or done for you, think also of the ground you stand on, the air you’re breathing, the whole universe that surrounds you. Thank the Creator for the awesome display of his wonder and glory we so often take for granted.