Creation Speaks To Me
by: Shireeen Spencer
God uses his creations to give us messages that we desperately need to hear. All of creation tells the story of God’s unlimited power. There are some signs in creation that speak very clearly to me of the greatness of God.
The changing of the leaves in this fall season teaches so many lessons. Trees teach us how to let go. They teach us that even in hard times there is beauty. They teach us that process is necessary.
Everyone loves the gift of a rainbow across the sky after the rain has fallen. Some people like rain but most people that I have met would prefer to just be walking in sunshine. I must admit that I don’t like being out in the rain and the best part of the rain for me is the beauty of the rainbow. I love to see a rainbow. I never get bored with this experience. It is a literal reminder that the rain will not harm you, no storm will ever be able to stand against God’s power and that God keeps his promises.
I also absolutely love the sunrise and sunset! The creativity of God that wakes us up and tucks us in compares to nothing else. The array of majesty that is displayed in the sky is second to none. Most times it leaves me speechless. But what stands out most to me, is how these two magnificent signs of God’s power in nature, is evidence of who is in charge. Our God who is in charge defies all of our definition, explanation and boundary of time. The sunset specifically speaks to me. It tells a story to me of God’s light in the darkness. It tells a story about God’s timing. It is here in this truth that I have learned some other very important lessons.
Genesis 1:5 tells us that “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning the first day.”
Did you catch that? The evening came first on the first day! We most always begin to count time in terms of when we get up. When we awake is when our day begins- not for God. The Bible tells us in Psalms 91 that the Lord does not slumber nor sleep. He doesn’t have to stop. He doesn’t have to rest. He doesn’t have to get up. But we do! While we are sleeping, God is at work. He is always up and working. A new day in God’s time begins with a new darkness. The sunset is the transition into the new day. The sunset is God’s message to us that He promises a bright, light filled new day once we have rested in him. We get to go to bed with that message to give us peace. At the times that it is dark and we think it is time to stop or to give up, God is bringing light and making something beautiful. If you think about it, we measure the beginning of a new day at 12:00 a.m. in what we consider the dead of night. The darkest hour and the new day happen simultaneously. In our darkest hour is hope for renewal; hope for a new beginning; hope - period. God often starts His best work in our lives in the darkest times of our lives and when the dawn comes, we fully realize it and get to celebrate it in all its beauty and majesty.
God does his best work while we rest. He created the dark and light, the night and day. He continues working while we are resting. This is exactly how he wants things to be. God does not slumber- which is rest. He does not sleep-which is to experience death. He wants us to close our eyes so we can open them up and be amazed at the miracles He reveals to us. He wants us to trust him with our earthly death because He knows that in Him we will awake to a new heaven and the dark will mean nothing to us as we spend eternity in the light of his glory.
God does powerful work in the dark places. Psalms 139:12 tells us that “Even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” God speaks into our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dark places with creativity and power. He sees and creates beauty in darkness. There is no dark that his light doesn’t shine in. The night gives just as much light as the day, when God is present in it.
God’s work doesn’t depend on us. When we get ready to wind down and to stop; when we are asleep, God is still in control. Our days should not be marked by the things we see, in the time we think they are to be seen, but in the mystery of the time we are doing nothing and what we had nothing to do with. The beauty of the sunset is the great display of colour and the far reach of light, just before it gets dark. That is a powerful message for us. It is a reminder that God is still at work and that his power still reaches beyond where we can see. We can take no credit for anything that God has done or is doing. He works unobstructed and uninterrupted. He works alone. He works amazingly.
2 Peter 3:8 reminds us to make sure that we “Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” We really cannot comprehend God’s time or timing. All time is in His hands. He can start and end when He would like. The sunset is the promise of a new beginning. He has chosen to reveal the beauty of a new beginning in the evening when we can rest well in him. The best rest is in Him. You can rest well in any dark place because God creates light in it. When God brings his light nothing and no one can deny it.
Rev. Shireen Spencer is a Church of the Nazarene credentialed minister who has served since 2005, working to connect people to God through the Word, Worship and Working Relationships. Shireen has pastored in two different churches working with youth, families and couples; leading worship, choirs and preaching. She is expanding her ministry to work with churches and Christian organizations in the areas of speaking, worship leading, and working with couples. Connect with Shireen www.connect3withshireen.com
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