Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.
Try Tabletalk NowAlready receive Tabletalk magazine every month?
Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.
The frosty mornings are gone for the season. Now the dew glistens on the blades of grass. Warm winds blow. Winter has given way to spring. Shoots of green are bursting out of the woods, and the crocuses and daffodils have pushed through the soil. Looking at them closely, we notice the vivid green leaves with their intricate veins, which absorb sunlight and bring nutrients to the brilliant flowers. The world is changing from shades of gray to beautiful color. New life is all around.
New life in nature draws our thoughts to new life in grace. In times past, we lived in a gray world of sin. We thought we had joy, but we were enemies of God. When God’s grace awakened us as we read the pages of Scripture and heard the Word preached, our eyes were opened to see our sin. We cried out to God for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit moved us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Our hearts were filled with love to Him for the price He paid on the cross for our sins. We are so thankful that we want nothing more than to live for His glory. We love Him with heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our love overflows to our neighbor.
We love God because we know Him through Scripture. But now we look with new eyes at God’s creation. Our hearts swell with awe and wonder. Not only is it pleasing to our senses, but now the beauty is richer because we know our great Creator. By faith we understand that God created the universe (Heb. 11:3). It’s as though we were looking at a painting before, but now we are immersed in the colorful panoramic view of nature. He is greater than any human artist or sculptor—His art is alive. There is beauty all around.
Scripture and nature go hand in hand. Isaiah calls on nature to celebrate the redemption of Israel: “Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel” (Isa. 44:23, KJV). The psalmist commands the sun, moon, and stars; fire and hail; snow and wind; mountains and hills; fruitful trees and cedars; beasts and birds to praise the Lord. And he commands each of us to praise the Lord (Ps. 148).
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Ps. 19:1, KJV). What a gift God has given us, from the snow-covered austere Rocky Mountains, to the endless oceans, to the graceful galloping horse, to the exquisite hummingbird. Let’s breathe in deeply the fresh outside air and enjoy God’s awesome creation. When we are downcast, let His glorious workmanship lift our hearts. When we need a fresh view of God, let’s look at the nearest plant and marvel at His handiwork. All nature praises God. Let the beauty of God’s creation move us to praise the Lord.