For the Beauty of the Earth

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV 

Many of us find a special connection with our Creator through His creation. As we experience the magnificence of our natural surroundings, from the towering majesty of an oak tree to the tiniest details of a wildflower, we can’t help but marvel at the One who orchestrated it all. The Bible has a lot to say about how nature reflects His glory, reveals His heart for us, and reminds us that every living thing depends on Him to survive, grow, and flourish. One of the many ways the natural world can draw us closer to our Maker is by reflecting the way life works—all of life, not just plants and animals but our human and spiritual lives too.  

Our loving Father has made it clear that death and loss will never have the last word. He seems to have woven that truth into the world around us. Think of the elements, the constant presence of water on the earth . . .how it never truly ends but just changes form as it plays its part in sustaining our intricate ecosystem. Or consider the seasons... the leaves of autumn fading and falling, becoming part of the earth again and helping to nourish what will sprout in the spring. Even Jesus uses a natural explanation to illustrate the concept of resurrection in John 12:24: “Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit” (paraphrase). 

It doesn’t take a fancy degree to observe and understand the way nature works. As Romans 1:20 reminds us, it is one way God has chosen to reveal Himself that no one can deny. That’s something we can remember when we encounter what feels like an ending in our lives. It may be the end of a particular season, a relationship, a job, or an endeavor we pursued for a while. It could be letting go of something we’ve been holding on to for a long time. It could be the unexpected close of a chapter in our lives that we thought we’d just begun to write. Whatever it is, we can trust that as hard as endings can be, there is always something new beginning even when we can’t see it. Scripture reminds us that in Christ “all things have become new” (II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). That’s the pattern of the world: when something dies, new life is being created; when something is taken away, a new space is opening up. And as we observe this taking place around us, we can be sure that it happens within us too. As the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” reminds us, the love of God is visible in everything: 

For the beauty of the earth,  
For the glory of the skies,  
For the love which from our birth 
Over and around us lies. 

Let’s never stop marveling at Creation and the way it reveals the heart of our Maker for us. Just think—the One who creates, sustains, and transforms all of life lives within us by His Spirit. When we experience those endings in our lives, we can hold fast to His promises for greater things to come. Even as we let go, He is already orchestrating something beautiful and new. 

Father, as I marvel at Your creation, I sense the love You pour out for all of us in so many unique ways. I see hope and renewal in the pattern of this world You have made, and I am grateful for every opportunity You give me to experience it in my life. Amen. 

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