May 23, 2014.

Today was our day off and a group of us went to Leon to surf down a volcano (and by ‘surf,’ it was really just sledding down the side). The hike up the volcano was tiring, but it was totally worth it. To see the world from that perspective was amazing. It reminds me of what Paul says in Romans:

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
(Romans 1:19-20)

It really is hard not to believe in God when you see the beauty and complexity of nature. What’s more for me is to see the logic behind nature. To see the world behave by natural laws, laws that can be described in mathematical equations. There is no reason for the world to behave according to laws other than the fact that it couldn’t exist without doing so. However, just because it wouldn’t exist if it did not behave according to laws isn’t a reason for the world to exist. In fact, it implies a higher being that made the laws and set them in action. In my opinion, science confirms God.

Nature can tell us different things about the characteristics of God, and one of those characteristics is the omnipotence of his power. One of my favorite passage about His power comes from I Kings. Elijah is hiding in a cave and God tells him to go to the entrance of the cave and shows him His power:

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
(I Kings 19:11-12)

Elijah feels like he is the only one left who cares about The Lord and the only one left who is carrying his burden. It is interesting to me that God shows him this display of his power before he tells him to get back and do his job basically, because he still has 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to baal. God reveals his power through nature all the time. I used to be very scared big storms that produced tornados. Now I love to see storms (I’m still not thrilled when they have tornados with them) because I can almost tangibly feel the power of God. Not even His power, but only a small fraction of His power. I think it is amazing.

This week as you go throughout your day, look for God in nature. See him in the wild flowers that grow in the fields, or in the trees of the forest, or in the heavy winds of a storm. See him in the relationships you have with people and the sacrifices people make for one another. Perhaps most importantly, be like him for someone else this week.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
(I Corinthians 10:31-11:1)

Suggested Daily Reading: Genesis 6-7, I Kings 19, I Corinthians 10.

The Lord show you his glory.

-Walter