Handiwork of God On Display

Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it roar! Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate! Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully. Psalm 96: 11-12 CEB

When was the last time you read Genesis One, and all you could say at the end was wow? You did not read it to defend creation over evolution, whether it was a literal 24-hour day or any other theological viewpoint. You simply read Genesis One with awe and wonder, like a child excited over some new discovery. We must guard against becoming old and jaded in our view of the world. We need to see God’s handiwork with excitement and shout with joy that, “The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.” (Psalm 24:1 GNT)

 “Everyone begins as a child by liking the weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Notice it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children—and the dogs? They know what snows are made for.” (unknown author). This quote is often misattributed to C.S. Lewis, yet it still captures his reflections on living with childhood wonder and joy.

It is often during the very unknown and unpredictable events of life that we are prompted to reflect, especially on life with God. We may find ourselves focusing too much on the outcome and overlooking the wonder of the process of creation, whether in nature, work, or home. If we are not careful, we can end up living each day as a reaction to events rather than as a new creation.

Tomorrow morning (March 3), you get to join 6 billion other people on planet Earth to witness 82 minutes of God’s incredible creation. God doesn’t always stay in the lines when He colors, and this extravagant display of a masterpiece is no exception. So, grab your cup of coffee, warm jacket, and ‘aweness,’ and head outside between 5 and 6:30 am (in Atlanta, Georgia, check your local viewing time) to experience a total Lunar Eclipse. This is more commonly known as a ‘blood moon’ when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the full moon, casting a shadow on the moon.

The moon’s usual bright white color will shift to deep reds and oranges, casting an eerie yet beautiful glow. Throughout history, the blood moon has been associated with many ideas, from omens of disaster to moments of deep spiritual renewal. For those who follow Jesus, the blood moon encourages us to admire God’s creation and consider the relevance of Romans 1:20: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” –Romans 1:20 NLT

B.F. Skinner was a pioneer in behavioral psychology who believed that human actions are shaped by reinforcement and punishment. If I receive a reward, I will do it again. If I am punished, I will avoid it. Humans will often respond similarly to rats in the famous Skinner Box experiment, pushing the lever for a desired outcome.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, however, believed Dr. Skinner’s view of humanity was depressing and limiting. He conducted his own psychological study of human behavior, not from what was needed for survival, but from the perspective of creating art. He observed artists who were completely absorbed in their work; time was irrelevant, and they often forgot to even eat. “Despite the intensity of this devotion during the creative process, after a painting was complete, the artist would set it aside and begin the next project…The artist was not driven by measuring the greatness of the finished product but by the creative act itself.” (Tyler Staton from The Familiar Stranger)

There is truth to the fact that what we put into our mind, body, and soul influences certain outcomes. However, we are not forced to respond to external triggers, and we react accordingly. Thankfully, because of the complexity of God’s creation, we are not confined to a behavior box, simply running back and forth to pull levers. God is the original creator and made human beings in His image. We were called to co-create with Him, and although it was distorted by the serpent in the garden, it has been redeemed and restored by Jesus in another garden.

“Every attribute of God is infinitely complex. Believing anything less is believing in a flannelgraph god, and you get stuck in Flatland. The Ancient of Days can’t be reduced to time or space. The Alpha and Omega can’t be reduced to numbers or letters. The Omniscient One can’t be reduced to our finite thoughts about Him.” (Mark Batterson, A Million Little Miracles)

“By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.” –Hebrews 11:3 CEB

Look up to be reminded of God’s creation, look beside you to see those who walk with you, look forward to see that God has made a way for you, look behind you to know that God dwells unmovable, and look within you to see a God who loves you beyond measure. A. W. Tozer wrote of God’s love, “Because He is infinite, that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand times ten thousand worlds beside.”

Walk outside tomorrow not only to see an astronomical display but to reflect on the good news that you are part of this amazing creation still in motion. When you follow Jesus, you become part of the unexpected. Enjoy!

God is great!