| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | from the multitude of creatures alive on this planet - to |
| In the first chapter of his letter to the Romans (vv 18 - | | | | say nothing of what might be found on other planets, |
| 20) Paul speaks powerfully of the way in which God | | | | or what can be observed by this generation in the |
| has revealed himself to man. Paul argues that, since | | | | depths of the universe |
| the beginning of creation, the power and divine nature | | | | Deeper Revelations? |
| of God have been clearly evident through God's own | | | | Do all these things reveal anything deeper about God |
| work of creation. | | | | than their obvious grandeur and the fact (for most of |
| Exceptions | | | | us except some physicists who struggle against such |
| This is not advanced by Paul as a proof of God's | | | | conclusions) of divine power behind it all? |
| existence since in v 21 he makes clear that he is | | | | As Christians, we ought, perhaps, to be aware that on |
| speaking of people who do accept God's existence. | | | | the whole, God leaves his creation "to get on with it" |
| Indeed, it could well be argued that for those without | | | | according to the laws of physics, chemistry and so |
| belief in God there is nothing in existence that is likely | | | | forth which he has established. If something of a |
| to convince them that there is a God for as Jesus has | | | | catastrophic kind is set to happen in nature, God allows |
| implied, to find him one needs first to seek him (Luke 11. | | | | it to happen: earthquakes, volcanic erruptions, |
| 9, 10) | | | | astronomic collisions. He does not, so far as our |
| What such people need is a personal revelation of | | | | observations and judgements tell us, interfer to stop |
| God himself. Of course, that revelation of God might | | | | such things. People who know God can accept that; |
| come in a multitude of ways, including through nature. | | | | those who do not know God find in it a further reason |
| But that is then an explicit act of God compared with a | | | | for their disbelief. |
| realisation which comes from a conclusion arising from | | | | We might then also draw the conclusion that the same |
| the observation of nature. | | | | is true for the human side of his creation. That is, for |
| In fact, I was for over twenty years without any real | | | | those sections of humanity which either do not |
| belief in God and neither the beauty nor the grandeur in | | | | recognise God's existence or choose to ignore it. In all |
| nature made any difference to that. It was simply | | | | essentials they are no different to the inanimate parts |
| there. | | | | of our world. |
| Creation And Believers | | | | But if the Bible tells us anything at all, it tells us |
| For those who do know God the situation is entirely | | | | repeatedly that God is ready and prepared to |
| different. At least, it should be different and should | | | | intervene when his people request it in faith. |
| make an obvious and direct difference to our lives. | | | | The Bible is full such instances and examples, whether |
| This is probably why Paul becomes so annoyed in the | | | | concerning man himself or the forces of nature. And |
| first chapter of Romans with those who are living | | | | these contrast clearly with those who ignore the |
| outside the will of God. One can argue, in fact, that the | | | | Creator and with (unavoidable)events in the |
| greater is one's conviction about God, the more one | | | | natural world. |
| can see of his nature in nature, so to speak. Nature | | | | Faith leads to faith since those who have faith have |
| does not reflect everything of God, for nothing could | | | | that faith increased and developed by its exercise, by |
| do that.But what it does reflect is highly significant. | | | | how they perceive God to act and by what they see |
| Paul speaks of divine power and grandeur. One can | | | | around them of God's power and divinity. They |
| see this in everything from a rainbow to a violent | | | | recognise that what God has made he can also |
| storm; from the natural scars which typify many parts | | | | change, if he so desires - and if his people ask in faith |
| of the landscape in Yorkshire, England, to the | | | | and for the right reasons. |
| awesomeness of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA; | | | | When this is set alongside those experiences of God's |
| to the towering redwoods of Canada, to the tiny | | | | people which are recorded in the Bible, faith leads to |
| golden lady's finger flowers in Ireland, and so forth. | | | | even more faith. The grandeur, power, resourcefulness |
| The reader will be able to think of many other | | | | and beauty of God are intensified by the faith which |
| examples and comparisons, whether from the world | | | | beholds them. |
| above or below sea, from the tropics to ice zones, or | | | | |