The Heavens Declare God's Glory!




Sunset view from my parent's home in central Alabama

 

 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it:  and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." 

Psalm 19: 1-6

Yesterday morning as I was driving to work, I chose a different route and was so glad I did!  As I crested a hill and looked towards the east, I saw blankets of fog tucked into the valleys below.  Just ribbons of clouds lying close to the ground.  Above you could see beautiful, clear blue skies.  The scene made me smile, and brought to mind the above portion of  Psalm 19. 

I am a very visual person.  Therefore, I think in terms of color, pattern and texture.  What if we didn't see color?  Was it necessary that we see color?  When you see what has been created, and the variety of colors, styles, smells and textures, can you believe that things just happened?  How about how far we are to the sun, or how close, for that matter?  What about the exact tilt of the earth on it's axis?  What about our placement in the Milky Way, or even in the universe?  How can a person believe that there is no God, no Creator? 

To me, this shows that Someone wanted us to have the privilege and pleasure to enjoy His creation.  God has given us the beauty of the earth to enjoy, to share, and to be used to point the way to the Lord.  Care should be taken, however, not to worship the creation, but to worship the Creator.  All praise and glory should go to Him.

Listen to the first and last verses of this hymn penned by Folliot S. Pierpoint:

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

Truly, "the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork!"