This past week, on our family day, we went to Birdworld as a family (praise God for Tesco Day's Out Vouchers). Included are some of the pictures I took when we were there. I was reminded afresh of the absolute beauty that God has placed in creation. He truly has given us all things richly to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17).
Looking at the various species of birds in their shapes, sizes, colours, and the grace with which they fly was humbling. I was humbled because God displayed such vibrancy in creation for our pleasure. He could have given us eyes that were monochrome and could only see black/white. He could have given us 2-Dimensional sight so we would have no depth perception. Yet, because He desires to display to us something of His own character in creation, He has given us sight/taste/touch/hearing/scent. Senses to perceive aspects of who our God is. That means that God has graced us with what we require to observe and discover Him as well. We have the Holy Spirit who reveals to us the deep things of God (1 Cor 2:10).
By the way... He is not dull and uncreative. He has shown such imagination in creation. Consider this fact. God is the first abstract artist! Artists re-create in art, something in nature. Even abstract artists, because they use shapes, colours, etc. None of these things existed before God created, so even our abstract artists are only copyists. God was not copying rather creating (we re-create, but He creates).
Such observations are reminders of how God not only gives us perception to observe such things, but He actually desires us to take enjoyment in the observation. Why? If it is enjoyable observing the wisdom in design and the beauty in form of creation (Psalm 104:24), how much more enjoyable must it be observe God Himself? I found great pleasure in observing the shapes/sizes/colours of these birds (objects of creation). How much more pleasurable must it be to observe and discover more about our God who has blessed us with these things? Oh, there is great pleasure and joy in discovering God! God doesn't desire our discovery of Him to be dull and flat obligation, rather an enthusiastic*, joyful, adventure where each ascended peak reveals a yet greater peak in the endless joy of ascending in knowledge of God.
*enthusiastic - comes from the Greek word enthusia, which is a compound word of en (in) Theos (God), which essentially means "a response to God in us".
-
