8/23/19 Nick (see HERE)
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the
moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are
mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” - Psalm 8
The more modern science helps us to learn more about this
wondrous creation and the more we realize how much we don’t know, the more awe
and wonder we should develop for it’s Creator, as this Psalm of David
relates. It is right to be humbled, as
is a man named Nick, who describes himself as “spiritual, but not
religious.” Nick told me in a sidewalk
conversation that he relates most closely to the Divine when surrounded by the
beauty of nature, and is at times overwhelmed by the great mystery of it all.
I think this sort of humility is a good starting place, but
the Bible says we shouldn’t stop there in futility at not being able to relate
to our Creator. Genesis tell us we are
created in God’s image. This doesn’t
mean God is part of the creation as eastern
religion might teach, but that we can see aspects of God reflected in the
creation, just as we know something of an artist by his artwork. And of all
creation, Genesis tells us that man was created as its greatest good. We can relate to God because He created us to
have much in common with Him.
Nick, however, takes this humility to another level not
included in David’s question. When we
consider the vast wonders of creation, not only do we need to be humble toward its
Creator, but he would say we can’t possibly comprehend God or the Divine with
our small brains and limited language.
Not so, according to the Bible. We might not begin to be able to comprehend
God with our own abilities, and we would be foolish to think we can, but we can
comprehend God in meaningful ways if He makes parts of Himself available to us. God might not answer all our questions, but
He reveals enough of himself for us to have an ongoing relationship with Him.
David said as much when he continued after his initial
question: “…You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them
with glory and honor. You made them
rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.” The emphasis is on what God has done, not
what man can do, and God has chosen to have a special relationship with
mankind.
It is true, man can’t lift himself toward God, and this
should humble us. But God can lift man
toward Himself, and this can inspire us.
It can inspire us to go beyond the awe and mystery, and actually learn about
God through His written word enough to have a relationship with Him, to
communicate, to hear and be heard, to speak and be spoken to. The Bible speaks of a relationship lost in
the garden, and a dramatic story of redemption involving the sacrifice of His
own Son, all initiated by God and not by human effort.
And that, more than anything, is why we can and should be
filled with awe and wonder.
Thanks, Nick, for allowing me to record our
conversation! It can be seen HERE at https://youtu.be/hjsz_ErhBgA
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