Introduction
When reading through the creation account of Genesis 1-2, we see a difference between the way God interacts with people compared to the rest of His creation. God speaks about other elements of His creation but He speaks directly to man and blesses him (Genesis 1:28). God continues to speak to Adam in chapter two, giving him direction and blessing (Genesis 2:16). Even after Adam and Eve disobey God’s command, He still communicates to them and interacts with them (Genesis 3:8-21).
The first three chapters of Scripture prove to us that God desires to communicate with humanity, to be in relationship with them. The first three chapters of Genesis teach us this truth but so do the last two chapters of Revelation, especially Revelation 21:1-4 where John says,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
How does God reveal Himself to people today?
By looking at the creation story, we have established that God, by His own will, chose to reveal Himself to Adam and Eve face to face so that they could know and enjoy Him. We see that God’s heart is for us to be in a relationship with Him and to be with Him forever. Yet, how does God reveal Himself and call people to know Him today?
God presently reveals Himself to us in two primary ways: general revelation and special revelation. This post will explore the truth of God’s general revelation and the next will focus on God’s special revelation. General revelation is God revealing Himself through His creation and providence.
God reveals Himself through Creation
In Psalm 19, David teaches us how God makes Himself known through general (19:1-6) and special (19:7-11) revelation. My youngest daughter Zoey is very artistic. If you were to look over her pieces of art, I think you’d learn a few things about her. After surveying her sketches, paintings, and projects you’d know that she is creative, talented, likes animals, is a little country, and a lover of Jesus. We can know things about a person by the works a person produces, the same can be said about God.
God’s universal canvas is unfathomably larger than any of my daughters’, but His work, the physical universe in which we exist, is filled with His handiwork; and all of it reveals something about Him to us. Since the LORD finished His creating work with the arrival of Adam and Eve into it, the physical universe is one way He has made Himself known to all people at all times. Since God spoke them into existence, the heavens proclaim the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Every star, planet, galaxy, and wonder in space point humanity to its mighty Creator. The term “glory” literally speaks of God’s weightiness or significance or in other words the complete sum of His worth. Every “cotton candy sky” displays the beauty and creativity of Elohim (the name of God used in Genesis during the creation week).
The heavens’ and skies’ produce a continuous but silent sermon to all the world (Psalm 19:2b-4). These two proclaimers, space and our atmosphere are long winded preachers for their message started at the beginning of the planet’s existence and continues today.
Creation’s Sermon Notes
What can we learn from the ongoing wordless sermon of the realm above us? I’m glad you asked.
The proclamation of the heavens and skies offers insight into God’s wisdom and power, evident when contemplating the size and intensity of the sun. The more one contemplates the vast expanse of the universe or the intricate design of molecular structures, the more they are compelled to marvel at the greatness and intelligence of the Creator. The vast oceans, the unfathomable depths, and the relentless power of waves crashing against the shore all testify to God’s strength. At the same time, the hydrologic cycle, which sustains life by watering the earth, reflects God’s goodness. The fact that rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous demonstrates God’s impartial love for all people (Matthew 5:45). These are just a few observations, but the takeaways from their unspoken message is limitless.
What Does God Desire His Creation’s Sermon To Accomplish In His People?
While God’s intends creation’s sermon to point all people to Himself, I believe He intends His work’s sermon to stir His people to worship Him. God intends for His creation to create an awe in us so that we would be even more in awe of Him as Creator. Though Psalm 19 ends in David worshipping the God who reveals Himself to people, I think Psalm 8:3-4 captures our proper response beautifully.
Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
In verse, we see a proper response from one who ponders the physical universe’s size and majesty. He has rightly observed how the stars and the moon dwarf him but is also correct in his perspective of God compared to His creative work. The moon weighs 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds, though weightless in space. Just by weight and mass alone we as people are seemingly insignificant and yet despite the moons impressive size David says that it is the work of His fingers. I drink a cup of coffee with my fingers! David says it was as easy for God to put the countless number of stars and earth’s nightlight into their places as it is for us as people to lift a cup of our favorite beverage to our mouths!
While the size and beauty of creation ought to cause us to worship its Creator, an even greater cause for worship is knowing that God thinks about and cares for us. That He would think enough about humanity to make us in His image, like Him, but not Him (8:5). Being made like Him, created in His image, means we have a built-in value unlike any other aspect of His creative work (Matthew 6:26). As the pinnacle of God’s forming work, He tasked Adam and those who followed to rule over and care for His creation (8:5b-8). Above all, since we are made in His image, we can know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him. With these truths in mind, it is no surprise that David ends this Psalm the same way he began it, with worship of His Lord!
God Considers You A Valuable Piece Of Art!
Perhaps you’ve seen a picture of a banana duct taped to a white wall on your preferred news outlet or social media feed. It’s a piece of work by Maurizio Cattelan titled Comedian, and it sold for $6.2 million at auction. Yes, I am thinking what you are thinking: some people have too much money! The banana taped to the wall that sold for millions was bought at a grocery store earlier that day for 35 cents. What did the buyer actually attain since the banana would eventually rot? The art enthusiast bought exclusive rights for taping a banana to a white wall with duct tape and printed instructions for replicating Cattelan’s original work.
As unreasonable and baffling a purchase like this is to the majority of us, even more amazing is the fact that God thinks of us as people often and in a caring way when compared to the vastness and greatness of His created universe. While this is good news for all, and despite how badly I want to unpack how great and precious His thoughts for us are, I must stop here for this post.
I must halt here because this is where the message of General Revelation ends. General Revelation through creation leaves all without an excuse for knowing that there is a God who designed and built all the beauty and wonder we see in our natural world. However, it fails to reveal who this God is, how or if we can know Him, and how to order our lives because of Him. Special Revelation pulls back the cover on the answers to these questions and will be the topic of our next time together.
Until then, take time to view a sunrise or sunset, take a walk through the woods and allow your senses to run wild, or consider your house pet and the common grace of God manifested in the joy of the companionship you enjoy with it. However you decide to consider the works of God’s fingers, may it stir awe-inspiring worship of its Creator, of your Creator!
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