Monday, September 18, 2006

God's Creation


This summer my family and I took a driving vacation to South Dakota and back. One of the highlights of our trip was the Black Hills. My son and daughter and I had a blast climbing on the rocks, and our family enjoyed the incredible view. I have to tell you that being in a place like this reminds me of the glory, majesty, and grandeur of God. I reflected back on verses like Genesis 1:9-10 "9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good." and Psalm 66:1-3 "1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! 3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!..." What glory God has created, and it is good! It was a joy to experience some of God's creation this summer.
I also thought about how in our self-centered ways we think that we can create better than God. How foolish we are to trust in our own power over the power of God. God has graciously created us in His image and given us the ability to do great works through Him. But let us not forget who is the creator; who is the one who holds all things together. And so when I returned from this trip I was encouraged all the more about God's greatness and His work in and through my life. I was thankful that the God of all creation loves me in a personal way. I was thankful that a God that rules over all the world came to this earth to save me and give me eternal life.
So I want to encourage you this day to reflect on the world around you. Take in the beauty of what God created for you and me. Be thankful for the life you have and the relationship you can have with God through Jesus Christ. Commit yourself to let God work in and through you to make a difference with your life and to touch the lives of others. The glory of God that is at work in creation, is at work in you each day. Let us praise God for this. Tell me what you think.