Every country has its own natural wonder. They may have mountains, volcanoes, beaches, snow, hot springs, the list goes on. God has created a variety of plants, animals, fruits, landscapes, and other creations for us to enjoy. Nature reveals God and His greatness and love.
The planning and wisdom God has put in all His creation including us show the extent of His love for us. The words in Psalm 104:24 are certainly true:
“How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.”
Psalm 104:24
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Revealing God’s Nature
Living in The Bahamas, I get to experience God’s nature in so many unique ways. Each season brings new fruits and vegetables to try out and savor. There are scarlet plums, hog plums, guineps, mangoes, sugar apples, seagrapes, sapodilla, and more. We receive seafood in abundance and is prepared in countless delicious ways.
For tourists visiting, every moment, sight, smell, sound, and taste is an adventure. They come to experience water adventures here: fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with the dolphins, riding jet skis, parasailing, and more.
When God’s Nature becomes Routine
Sad to say, for many of the local people living here, all these amazing blessings provided by God have become routine, monotonous, and mundane.
I drive past the beach every day on my way to work. Every. Single. Day. It takes me an hour to travel to and from work, stuck in traffic, trying to get to my destination.
It can be so easy to take these beautiful views for granted. If we are not careful, we can get so comfortable with our life the way it is that time becomes a blur. Each day becomes a repeat of the day before. Slowly and subtly, our family can become bored with the wonderful provisions God has given us.
God Reveals Himself through Nature Versus
Nature reveals God’s existence. There are two main verses that we consider when we are talking about nature revealing God. There are many other verses that speak to general revelation, but these are often used.
A great resource for learning more about God’s creation is Wayne Gurdem’s Systematic Theology. It is a large, but very thorough book. He covers creation on pages 262-314.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20 ESV
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19:1-6 ESV
What it Reveals about his Character
It’s very important that we realize that nature is not God. Instead, nature reveals the existence of God. He uses it to proclaim and communicate his attributes and existence.
The beauty of nature nourishes our soul as we contemplate the grandeur of the creator that created it. Nature is considered ‘general revelation,’ which basically refers to general truths we can know about God through his natural world.
According to these verses, these are some of the points that we can assume about God’s character.
- Nature proclaims his glory.
- Everything gives evidence of his existence
- God has shown Himself through the creation
- He has not hidden from man, he wants us to know him
Listen to the wisdom of Wayne Grudem on these passages,
For those who have eyes to see and evaluate the evidence correctly, every learn on every tree, every blade of grass, every star in the sky, and every other part of creation all cry out continuously, “God made me! God made me! God made me!” If our hearts and minds were not so blinded by sin, it would be impossible for us to look closely at a leaf from any tree and say, “No one created this: it just happened.” The beaty of a snowflake, the majestic power of a thunderstorm, the skill of a honeybee, the refreshing taste of cold water, the incredible abilities of the human hand- all these and thousands of other aspects of creation simply could not have come into existence apart from the activity of an all-powerful and all-wise creator.
Wyane Grudem, Systematic Theology, pg 142-143
What it Reveals about his Love
Nature reveals God. It is obvious that nature reveals God and many of his attributes, but does it reveal his love? It’s a little harder to make an argument for nature reveals God’s love. This question is better left to theologians better than myself.
I do however think I can make the statement that God’s existence is best displayed through creation. His love is best declared and displayed through Jesus Christ.
He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for a sinful people. Jesus was a propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). What a powerful display of love!
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NIV
Connecting with God Through Nature
One way I maintain my joy in God’s creation is by remembering who it is that gave me the ability to see the water at the beach, who gave me my sense of smell to enjoy the salt air and my sense of touch to appreciate the cool water on a hot summer’s day.
Another way we can change how we view routines is by reflecting on scriptures such as the one found in Revelation 4:11. This verse tells us how mighty and powerful our God is:
“Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation 4:11 ESV
God certainly didn’t create everything here on earth for us as His creations to be bored. We can slow down during each day and meditate on each small blessing. Be grateful for what we do have.
Personally, I thank God after each year not having a devastating hurricane. I thank Him for my health and strength. For being able to drive each day to work in my car when others may have to use public transportation or walk. I thank Him for having a job in the first place.
A final way I learned to view routines as adventures are by putting myself in others’ shoes. Some persons pray to God to be able to one day experience what they get to live with each day.
We have tourists come from all around the world, who save their money for years to bring their family here. Others may never be able to afford to come to The Bahamas and experience nature the way I do.
Teach Your Family to Enjoy the Small Joys
Each one of us can show gratitude for what we do have. You may not have beaches, but you can find adventures in hiking a trail near where you live, visiting a park, visiting a volcano or mountain, going skiing or sledding.
Look around you and consider the natural resources you have and experience every day that others do not have to privilege of having. Look at them through new eyes. Look for the adventure in your daily routines. Take your families on adventures and contemplate together the wonder of God’s creation.
Recently I shared this same outlook with my stepdaughter. We decided to spend the day with our dogs and enjoy the scenery around us. We reflected on God’s creations and had a happy day!
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
James 4:8 ESV
The perfect way to draw close to God and deepen your relationship with Him is by showing appreciation for everything He has created. Search out the small adventures in your boring life. Change the way your view routine and find happiness in each moment!
A Little More About Jem
I am a wife, and stepmother to two amazing children, blogger, and a Christian. I love sushi (cooked not raw), reading and trying new recipes and restaurants with my amazing husband and fellow foodie.
Scriptural Gems was created to remind and encourage other stepmoms to live a simple and healthy life in all areas: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally using the scriptures.
I love helping other stepmoms navigate the challenges of being a part of a blended family and overcoming obstacles using bible principles.