Monday, October 3, 2016

The Common Manifests God’s Glory Too! Skies, Springs, and Squirrels

"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." (Heb 11:3 ESV)

Today, as in all periods of human history, human beings have great interest in the sensational and the supernatural. There is a penchant in human nature for the bizarre and unusual.  The latest “viral video” will no doubt bear this out.

This desire for all things amazing is a God given one.  God has wired humanity with a thirst for awe.  His purpose is that we would be in awe of Him, and all of His works. 

What many fail to realize is that it is not just the uncommon which is awesome. While they pursue the sensational in those things that are uncommon, they run past many things that are awesome, but whose awesomeness is hidden by their commonness.  These common things are bursting with the awesome glory of God, but that glory can only be seen through the eyes of faith.

What could be more common than the sky? It is always above us. We never even wonder if it will be there when we walk outside. Yet the writers of Scripture saw the awesome glory of God in that ever present common thing. They wrote things like: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." (Psa 19:1 ESV), and "The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory." (Psa 97:6 ESV) and "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psa 8:3–4 ESV)

These words of Scripture expressing worship and awe, while looking toward the sky, were penned before the invention of today’s powerful telescopes. Modern scientists can see things that the Psalmists could never see.  They know, for example, that there are multiplied billions of stars just like our sun.  But while their telescopes can show them the stars, many of these scientists  lack eyes of faith to see the awesomeness of the God who created those stars. They fail to realize that He has a different name for every star, and because His power never fails, every star is accounted for! (Isaiah 40:26)

Every facet of the common creation of which we are only a part, is bursting with awe, as it manifests God’s glory! Whether it is a spring gushing millions of gallons of water daily, or one squirrel chasing another one around and around a tree, it is all awesome, and yet all common.

These common things make men accountable to their creator. Paul writes, "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." (Rom 1:20 ESV) One day every human being will give an account for what  he or she did, with the revelation of God’s awesome glory, through what we would call just common every day things.

“Father, help us to see your awesome glory in the common things of our lives, and worship you with fervency, affection and pleasure.”