God is an Artist!

When was the last time you stopped moving long enough to take a breath and a look around you at all the beautiful things God has created?  It’s been a while for me.  I mean, sure, when I see a beautiful flower or bird or butterfly, it will catch me off guard and I’ll be caught up by the beauty of the colors and the vibrancy that no human artist can imitate.  But I mean actually sat back and appreciated the detail with which God creates (John 1:3), it been a while for me.  

Yesterday, I was afforded just such an opportunity.  This week I’m working from South Carolina and I drove yesterday.  Instead of taking the most direct route (there is no straight line here from my house), I took a more scenic route.  Because that included back roads and a more rural route (including a slower speed limit), I was actually able to enjoy not just the ride but the scenery.  I noticed things I don’t normally take the time to see like the different types of trees in groves living together and supporting each other…the colors of their leaves and how they complement each other.  I saw the different colors of the flowers making up a natural bouquet. The sky was a beautiful blue, not quite sky blue and not cerulean, but a color in between.  There was very little cloud cover, while today the clouds are puffy and gray – no less beautiful only different.  

For the first time in a long time, I recognized the gift God has given us in His desire to give us paradise here on earth – to teach us, to provide for us, to speak to us.  How much of it do we take for granted?  I know I take a lot of it for granted on any given day.  I realize that I get distracted by way too many manmade gadgets and I take for granted all the God given gifts surrounding me. Wonderful are the works of God’s hands (Psalm 19:1) and just think, He created all this so we would have a beautiful functional world in which to live.  The world is also how He reveals His divine nature and eternal power to us (Romans 1:20).  Do we give Him enough praise for it?  I know I’m guilty of not doing so consistently.  I challenge you to take even a short period of time and really meditate on who God is and the beauty He has given us (Job 37: 14-16).  Take a walk or sit outside for a time.  It will make you appreciate Him in a whole new way.  

For all of the Monet’s and Picassos and da Vinci’s of the world who have attempted to capture the beauty God created on canvas, it’s still no comparison to God’s glorious creations.  He deserves our honor and our praise for all the things he’s done.  He is the true artist creating so many beautiful things out of nothing.  Glory be to God!