Contemplation
Glancing out of my study window early this morning, I saw the sun shining through an impressive cloud formation. This sight was both beautiful and awe-inspiring; it is good to lift our focus from the day-to-day concerns of our busy lives to contemplate something of the vastness of what is ‘out there’. I queried within myself how the vision that met my eyes related to my personal experience of God. I occasionally come across images on social media that show in wonderful detail something of the immensity of the universe, but how does this relate to the God whom we know? The answer, of course, is that he made it all; he is far greater than his creation, which we might imagine to be as but a speck of dust in his hand. Yet, he reaches out to us, calling us to himself in salvation, but also drawing us into his plan and purpose as we navigate our everyday lives. How great is our God!
Revelation
Many years ago, Jean and I both enjoyed reading the stories of Isobel Kuhn and her husband, John, who were missionaries in a remote region of China. I recall one event in particular, where John journeyed to the most far-flung village that they ministered to. While there, something remarkable occurred. A small group of people turned up who had travelled from another settlement that was much further away still. These community representatives came because they had been seeking to know God, and he had led them to make this journey to meet a man who would teach them about himself. This is reminiscent of the biblical story of the magi who followed the star to worship the Christ child. No one had told these Chinese travellers about Jesus, it was just that they had seeking hearts and had seen God’s hand in his creation and yearned to know him. David wrote about this in Psalm 19:1-4:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their
voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Universally broadcast
How wonderful that this testimony about the nature of God is universally broadcast for all to see, even those who dwell far away from what we call civilisation. I recall that the early astronauts, on looking down on the beautiful blue orb that is the Earth, saw reflected there something of the wonder of our creator. Not everyone sees this, though; many have eyes that are blinded. But those whose hearts are open cannot fail to see his handywork in his creation; whether the immensity of the universe with its astronomical array of heavenly bodies, the ebb and flow of the vast oceans, the marvellous complexity and working of the human body or the detailed architecture of the smallest particles from which all else is formed.
Signposts
Mankind has always looked for meaning in life and, observing those reflections of our creator, has sought to know God. Sadly, this has often resulted in worship of the signposts rather than the one to whom they point. As we contemplate the creation, we need to remember that, whilst magnificent and awesome, it is merely a dim reflection of God himself, who is so much greater. We should also note that God is not drawing us into the vastness, but he himself reached down to us; Jesus even became one of us to enable our reconciliation with our creator. God didn’t leave it at that because his Spirit came to be with us always, as comforter, guide and advocate. God is not far away in the vastness and complexity that we perceive from afar; he is with us, here and now, where we live. We meet with him in our daily lives and also as we join together with his people in fellowship and worship. God is not like a stand-off parent who abdicates his responsibility, but rather one who loves us so deeply that he wants the very best for us and stands with us to guide, teach and empower us. He is committed to helping and enabling us to live in all the fullness that he has called us to. A very helpful passage is found in 2 Peter 1:1-8, which I recommend is best read in the Living Bible version; it is expressed there in a way that has had particular clarity for me, and I hope will bless you too.