Things have changed since the beginning of creation. When all things were new, the earth shone and sparkled with unspoiled beauty. The water and air were unpolluted. The landscape bore few scars from human activity. Now city dwellers face days of smog and haze. Light pollution obscures our view of the stars. Roads and buildings have replaced forests and grasslands.
One thing, however, has not changed. The creation has a story to tell. In the beginning, creation declared the glory of God, singing his praises. And today, even with the marks of human progress and the scars of human sin, the creation still tells of God's handiwork.
But there is more to say than creation can tell. God created us to respond to the divine Word. We can catch glimpses of God's glory on a starlit night and in a magnificent sunrise, but God also calls us to see beauty in the instructions he gives us, showing us how to live. The creation may declare God's glory, but God's law refreshes the soul. God's commands show us how we are called to live well and how limits are set for our good.
Creation still speaks of God's glory. But by itself, creation's voice cannot save us. Only God's Word can speak forgiveness and new life to a broken world.
The heavens declare your glory, Almighty God. Speak your Word into our hearts so that our words and thoughts are also pleasing to you. In the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
About the author — Joel Vande Werken
Joel Vande Werken has been a pastor since 2007, serving churches in Sussex, New Jersey, and in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. He and his wife, Brandie, have five young children.
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