Recently I saw a beautiful sunset. It was truly glorious. When the word glory is used about God, we are speaking of God’s infinite beauty because of who He is in His perfections. God puts His glory on display as He manifests Himself through creation and redemption. Furthermore, glory is the brilliant splendor that radiates from God’s revelation of His character and mighty acts. God really put His glory on display with that sunset.
Truth be told, God is speaking to us continually. God is relational. He does not always use words, but speaks to us, for instance, through a jaw-dropping sunset. Beyond a doubt, God uses nature to speak softly in the depths of a believers spirit. The apostle Paul writes:
“For God’s 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” (Rom 1:20).
Paul expresses that the natural world bears witness to God through its magnificent beauty, complexity, design, and usefulness. He declares that God’s revealing Himself through nature leaves all of us “without excuse.” In other words, no one can rightly complain that God has left insufficient evidence of His existence and character because among other things nature puts God’s glory on display.
The psalmist David, I assume inspired by nature, writes:
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them” (Psa 8:1-4)?
David declares that God’s name is majestic in all the earth, even if not all people acknowledge it. The psalmist is overwhelmed that the God who is powerful enough to make the heavens takes notice of him and cares for him. To look at the world our creator has made could lead one to mistakenly believe God is distant from us, but in truth, God is close to us.
God is glorious, and yet, we can find Him by merely opening up our hearts. He is continually speaking to us, but we must be willing to listen. Perhaps, we need to ask God to sharpen our eyes and ears. Possibly we ought to practice looking and listening to God’s voice. I know in my life when I do I become more aware of God’s presence, more in tune with His voice, and better placed to respond appropriately.
There is no doubt as the song declares:
“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” (Psa 19:1-2).
God reveals Himself through nature. As I gazed at the beautiful sunset, I could not help, but think what a mighty God I serve. My God created the sunset as well as me. I was left speechless by the sunset, but even more by the thought that the God who spoke the world into existence chooses to know me. I hope the sunset drew others into a wonderful awareness of God and His love for them. I know through the sunset He was revealing Himself for that very purpose.
I am so blessed to do life with each of you. As we move throughout the day, let’s take time to pause, take in God’s creation, and listen to our loving creator.