Henry Drummond who wrote the classic work on 1 Corinthians 13, The Greatest Thing In The World, was a naturalist. He believed that every spiritual reality has some natural parallel in this physical world that reflects it. In this way the Creator gives evidence of the greater reality. This would seem to make sense when we listen to the way the Lord Jesus Christ used earthly object lessons to teach the higher truth.
Regardless, it is my conviction that you can learn a lot about God, about yourself, and about life by simply taking a walk through the woods. I have a favorite trail on our farm that takes me high up on a ridge line. Many days as I have walked that familiar path I have heard the sweet promptings of the God who made it all.
“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 50:10-12).
Look up! Think of God – the One who is much higher than the highest tree, the highest mountain, or the highest cloud. Far too often we spend our days with our heads down. Lift up your eyes. A walk through the woods can help you think of the greatness and glory of God.
Look around! Enjoy the little beauties that bring so much blessing. The sound of the bird. The little squirrel playing in the trees. The breeze blowing the leaves. The sun peaking through the treetops. All of them are just gentle reminders of God’s mercy.
Look ahead! Watch your step. If you don’t want to lose your way then you must stay on the path. Pay attention to uneven ground and hidden obstacles that can turn a nice walk into a limp back home. Yes, life is much like a walk in the woods. There is much to watch for and also much to enjoy.
Creation speaks to us about our Creator. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). Look at all of the natural things God points out throughout Scripture. The birds, the mountain stream, the beautiful flowers…all of them have something to say.
We are told in Romans 1:19-25 that in apostate days people will reject the truth of the gospel because they have first rejected the truth of where they came from. Men do not appreciate a Savior until they acknowledge the Creator. Perhaps this is where an entire generation started further away from God: having consumed our eyes, energies, and every waking hour with entertainment and media, we have forgotten what God is saying to us in the world around us.
If we paid more attention to the object lessons we may understand more of spiritual truth. Maybe it would be good for all of us to take a walk through the woods.
Today we begin a brand new Enjoying the Journey series on the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ! Join us for this study as we get a glimpse of the One who is both Creator and Judge. Subscribe on your podcast player or at YouTube.com/drscottpauley and plan to listen each day!
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Although the scriptural reference was given, the truth of Romans 1:20 was not delivered. So (…as a walk through the woods will reveal…), if one has the desire to learn of God, and if one has the eyes to see, then “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” That is, you can ‘clearly see the invisible things of Him’ by looking at the visible. Think about it: That is all that the parables are–Jesus was using an earthly story that could be seen (a visible) to make visible a heavenly truth (the invisible). All about us are the teachers of God and His story…if we but have eyes to see the invisible truth found within the visible!
So…start seeing the invisible things that of Him by the things that are made!
The light of creation is the entry point of our understanding about God. In these brief posts we are not always able to go into depth but it is my hope that many others will check the Scripture references and continue their own study. God bless!