Consider The Beauty Of God's Creation

"Today's Devotion" For October 26, 2005

Read: Romans 8:18-27; Isaiah 64

CONSIDER THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION

"Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand." (Is.64:8)

Here we are at the end of October in Wisconsin. It's the height of autumn. The weather fluctuates between mild, a little warm, and cool to cold. We've had some days of rain - although not nearly enough - and we've had clear, sunshiny days. It’s autumn, with all that word means in the upper Midwest, and the beauty of God's creation is again showing itself in a new and spectacular way. Leaves are falling off the trees, it's true, but those still holding their positions are turning magnificent shades of gold, red, purple, magenta, and orange (at least to my untrained eye for color). Another change of seasons is again showing the power of God, His majesty, and wisdom. It's a breath-taking time of year where I live, and perhaps also where you live.

It's just these times of year, when seasons change and those changes inimical to each season are obvious, that reveal the true magnificence of God's creation. People may debate whether the world and the universe were created, have "intelligent design," or just came into existence through a "big bang" ("theory (?) of evolution"), but there's no getting around its beauty. It's a marvelous and wonderful place, filled with magnificent stretches of mountains, rolling hills, sweeping plains, pristine rivers, streams, and lakes, and bordered by oceans, all teeming with wild game, fish and plants for food. Ample and fruitful farmland occupies huge areas of the nation, providing food for the world. And let's not forget the magnificent trees, flowers, grass, and other plants that beautify the earth, scrubbing the carbon dioxide from the air and providing oxygen for us to breath in the process. This is God's magnificent and wondrous creation.

If we look around us, however, we'll also see that God's creation is in trouble. Human beings have done a wonderful job of polluting the lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, air, and land that God has given us for our enjoyment and stewardship. On one hand we have those affectionately labeled, "tree huggers," who don't want anyone to cut down a tree to use it for the purposes God created them. Then we have the folks who treat animals better than they treat people, because, after all, "animals are people too." Of course we don't want to forget those who see every foot of undeveloped land as a stepping stone to great wealth and prosperity for themselves (not necessarily for others) and don't really have any concern about good stewardship of the resources they covet. No matter where the debate goes, one thing is certain - we human beings are doing a terrible job of stewardship when it comes to creation.

St. Paul describes the pain of God's creation as he reminds us that, because of Sin, the whole creation groans as it awaits the final judgment and Jesus' return on the Last Day. In truth, human beings are more able to destroy God's creation than to preserve it. The selfishness that is part of our sinful condition leads us to seek ways to use and abuse God's gifts rather than be good stewards of them. The pain and decay of Sin is reflected in the whole of creation in spite of the beauty of the autumn leaves, the glistening white of a winter's snow, the new green buds on the spring awakening trees, and the bright sunshine and warmth of a summer's day. Living things die; inanimate objects decay; such is Sin's affect on God's world.

Yet, in His infinite wisdom and gracious purpose for humanity - for you and me - God sent Jesus Christ into the world to reverse the process of decay. In Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection we receive God's antidote for the decay and destruction caused by Sin. Jesus' removes the power of Sin, death, and Satan from our lives, forgiving us of all our sins, giving us peace with God, and making us, by faith in Him, a new creation before God. In Jesus we become, once again, the epitome of the beauty of God's Creation. We are made holy and acceptable to Him once again as we are covered in the blood of the Lamb - the righteousness of Christ - through which we are made clean and pristine once more in the sight of our heavenly Father. Our sins no longer pollute our relationship with our Father in heaven because of Jesus. We once more, in Christ, reflect God's glory and the wonder of His Creation. How marvelous is the beauty of God's creation, restored in Jesus!

Prayer: Father, I thank You for all the blessings You give me. As I look around me at the marvels of Your creation, I realize that, in spite of our worst efforts, You maintain beauty on this earth and in my heart as You point me to Jesus. You have recreated me, having been stained and polluted by Sin, in the washing of Holy Baptism through which You have restored me to Yourself, crucifying me with Christ to Sin, and raising me with Him into Your eternal presence by faith in His blood. Help me to be a witness to your grace and love, and show me how to share Your blessings and wonders with others that they may see Your creation all around them and give You glory and praise for all Your blessings for the good of all. In Christ's most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright ©2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.