The Earth Is Full of God's Glory, Part 3

The Earth Is Full of God's Glory, Part 3 (En Español) I Was Always Beholding the Lord David revealed a profound truth concerning his relationship with the Lord. He said, "I saw the Lord before me {continually}, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken" (Acts 2:25 LEB). There was something in David's heart -- call it a spiritual radar -- that caused him to continually perceive the Lord. This inner awareness caused the king to see the Lord outwardly in all phases of life. In spite of conflicts, death threats, betrayal and fear, David was always beholding the Lord. At another time, perhaps while he was watching a sunset with brilliant rays of light exploding from behind clouds, David had a revelation: The sky wasn't just a canopy of light and color covering the earth. It was, in fact, a declaration of the very glory of God (Ps. 19:1). Yet too often we do not fill our minds with the glorious things of God; instead, our minds are filled with anxious thoughts and desires. Sometimes we just need to stop, pause, and look at the wonders of God's creation. There are times when I will lie on the lawn on a cloudless night and let my worship of God soar into the awareness of the moon and stars. Surrounding us are billions of stars and galaxies, all designed and created by our God. He is utterly amazing! The earth, the surrounding skies -- the very mystery and miracle of life itself -- all bear witness to a Creator so unlimited in His abilities that men, regardless of their cultural or religious background, have no excuse to not honor Him. Our world is a kaleidoscope of wonders and divinely engineered realities, fitly joined together that showcase the greatness of God. Recall also Paul's words, that the invisible attributes of God -- His eternal power and divine nature -- are "clearly seen, being understood through what has been made" (Rom. 1:20). God's nature and power are "clearly seen . . . through what has been made." So, have you seen today the glory of God? Jesus and Nature To possess the mind and nature of Christ means many things to us, but do we include in our definition of Christlikeness the love of creation? Christ loved Planet Earth. He often spent nights praying, and then ultimately sleeping, beneath the stars. Indeed, He spent forty days in the wilderness, even among "wild animals" (Mark 1:13 LEB). As night fell, He didn't return to a campground. Rather, He lay gazing upon the bejeweled, celestial sky. Indeed, Jesus frequently drew revelation about the Father from the observable world around Him. He told His disciples to "consider the lilies" (Luke 12:27) and spoke of God's love and care, even for the sparrows (v. 6). He saw miracles of life contained within the power of a simple seed, and He made this revelation a centerpiece of His teaching (Matt. 13). Indeed, many of the Lord's greatest sermons were presented, not in the temple or behind the pulpit of a local synagogue, but at lakesides or on hilltops. And we think of Gethsemane as the place where Jesus sweat blood in prayer, but Gethsemane was a garden, and the Bible tells us that Jesus "often met there with His disciples"(John 18:2). I love the fact that the Lord routinely found joy among flowers and landscaping, and that He brought His disciples there to teach them. Yet not only was the setting of a garden a familiar place for Jesus while He was alive, but even in death His tomb was set in the midst of a garden (John 19:41). In fact, when He rose from the dead, a distressed Mary thought Him to be the gardener (John 20:15). Jesus obviously saw the creation as an echo of the Father's heart. He found in nature a place, a quiet place, to seek and find communion with God. Finally, it is of a great truth that mankind was born in a garden. "And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed" (Gen 2:8 LEB). This is the wonder of a world filled with wonders: God Himself planted a garden. He planted trees and flowers, plants and grasses. I think, in my opinion, He likely put His hands in the soil and spoke to the seeds and "caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food. And the tree of life was in the midst of the garden" (v. 9). Beloved, today many are wearied from battle and wasted from warfare. Yes, we should find solace in God alone, but may we also seek God surrounded by His creation? If you don't have a garden, plant one. Create a sanctuary in your yard or go to a local park. A God-seeker carries in his heart an appreciation for the world our Father has given us. Our planet is spectacularly beautiful. Remember: the living God is "clearly seen . . . through what has been made." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The preceding excerpt was taken from Pastor Frangipane's book And I Will Be Found by You. A few months ago a new version was published by Passio, a division of Charisma Media. To make way for this new edition, we are offering the original version for just $5.67 (a 58% discount). Limited quantities so act soon, especially if you want bulk quantities. Clearance - Save 58% Book - $5.67 (Retail $13.50) Read the Amazon reviews for this book Visit our bookstore to order ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ If you are financially unable to purchase a product by Pastor Frangipane, he would love to give you your choice of any one of his ebooks for free, or for whatever you can afford. One free eBook per household please. (Visit our FAQ page for more information.) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Please feel free to forward this message to others; acknowledging our website (and publisher) would be kindly appreciated. 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