The Display in the Skies

Genesis 1:14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 

We have been looking at the fact that God sees. He is no dead idol of wood, metal, or clay. He is the real deal. When He created the vast universe of stars, planets, and other solar objects, He did so as a picture of our time and His eternity. Ever since, throughout human history, mankind has looked to the heavens in wonder, though often misinterpreting what they are saying.  When the light of the sun goes out, we still can see faintly His glory and the vastness of His display. We can also hear Him give the promise to Abraham of a vast number of those who will be His people forever.  What do you hear when you view the wonder of His display?

Fruits and Flowers

Genesis 1:11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 

Part of our transition to the Southwest this year has been a dramatic change in not only "big picture" scenery, but also the difference in plant life.  It's not just cacti, but all sorts of other flowering trees and bushes, as well as different kinds of fruit.  As we look to add to our landscaping we have been looking at fruit trees, including ingrafted "fruit salad" trees that can yield four kinds of apples or cherries, or lemons and limes, or even "less related" fruit on the same tree. We take so much for granted when we look just at the grocery story for fruit or the nursery or florists for flowers.  God made and gave all of this beautiful and tasty glory for us.  He looked on it and saw it was good. May we have that same kind of vision today.

Landscapes and Waterways

 Genesis 1:9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 

We saw yesterday that God at certain points pauses to look at His Creation, and He sees that it is good. God looked at the earth and the Seas and called them good. It is no surprise then that so many of us love to look at landscapes - be it the tree-lined hillsides with their lush green or shades of Autumn, and waterways: the beach at dawn, the enveloped lakes, or the creek beds trickling by a cabin.  It is good for us to stop and see that it is all good because the One Who made them is all good. He has made them all for us all to stop and see, and to recognize the God Who gives such good things.  Take time to look today and give Him thanks for them all. 

God Saw the Light

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

God sees everything, everywhere, every time.  He always has and always will. It is part of His nature. That may seem rather elementary and matter-of-fact, but it is one of those awesome truths about Him we tend to downplay. It is significant that God looked at - saw - the light He had made, and determined that it was good.  He then separated it from the darkness, naming each one.  The point is that God sees all and He is able to distinguish good from bad, right from wrong, best from not-so-great. He is the only one with that perfect perspective. He sees and I need Him to help me see things clearly, rightly, meaningfully.  What does He see today looking at me? What can He show me I need to see?

The God Who Sees, Hears, Knows

Daniel 5:22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

In the passage above, we find God speaking through Daniel to the Emperor about "the writing on the wall."  Like many, Belshazzar had continued to worship gods which do not see or hear or know, even though he had seen in his own father's life the power of Almighty God.  Over the next few months we will be looking at passages that reveal our Lord God is not a dead piece of material, but the One Who does see, hear, and know.  Thank you for going along for the ride, and may we all see His presence more in and around us, hear Him as He speaks into our lives, and get to know Him a little more this year.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!