NOTE: This article was written after returning from a vacation in the summer of 2005 in central and northern California.
GOD’S CREATION
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20.
It is truly good to be back from vacation. Everyone needs to take a little time off every once in a while to refresh their souls. But the key is to get back to work. While we were gone, my family and I had the opportunity to see a number of things for the first time. We saw huge skyscrapers, bridges that spanned bays, ships that carry millions of pounds of cargo, well-manicured gardens, sculptures and various other achievements of men that show how great our God-given abilities are. We rode a cable car up an incline that would be exhaustive to the average man to walk up and then we saw some of the windiest streets in the world. We even saw one mansion that shows how strange and eccentric some people are in their achievements.
But such structures pale in comparison to other things we saw while away. We saw trees that started growing on this earth even before our Lord left heaven to serve us. Trees so huge that the entire family could stand at its base and still not cover its diameter. We saw waterfalls and creeks and snow (yes, in August) and lakes and rivers. We saw and hiked mountains and valleys. We stood on plateaus where you can look in all directions and see the wonders of creation for miles and miles. We saw the ocean and beautiful cliffs. We saw wildlife, some closer than ever before. One evening, while we were lodging in the country we looked up and saw multitudes of stars - more stars than we could ever imagine while looking up in the city. We saw steam rising out of the crags of rocks, hot springs, bubbling pools of water and other geo-thermal activity. We also saw huge boulders that were spewed miles away by a volcano that occurred less than a hundred years ago and a small cave that was formed by lava flow more than 2000 years ago. I could go on and on describing these wonders of creation. While taking in all of these sights, one thing continually came to my mind – the greatness of God.
I understand how man can look at a great skyscraper or a bridge and praise its architect for his great achievements - and rightfully so. But I marvel at how in the next breath he will deny the architect of achievements that dwarf the greatest of man’s creations. In many of the brochures from our national and state parks we read about how many of these formations, canyons and mountains happened “millions” or “billions” of years ago as a result of evolution. They attribute their findings to the laws of science but they simply cannot answer the question, “Where did it all start?” Science cannot explain life originating from inorganic matter or prove that matter is eternal. Why? Because such things CONTRADICT the very laws of science they rely upon to “prove” their theories. How truly sad it is than man in his quest to live without lasting moral consequences chooses to exchange, “the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to take this vacation. I always look forward to times when I can see the natural beauty of this earth. It renewed my faith in my God. I choose to accept the words of David who said,
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:6-9
“Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:7-13
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:3-4