What Nature Speaks of God

Visiting Colonia, Uruguay, Peggy and I were intrigued by its history, particularly as silently spoken through its architecture. Founded in 1680 by Portuguese soldiers, the settlement soon fell to Spanish forces, only to change hands between the two sides at least seven times over the next 130 years. Today, the historic sector of Colonia remains a fusion of both traditions—the ornate, pastel painted, stucco facades of Spanish influence interspersed among the rougher stone and wood exteriors of more subdued earth tones, the legacy of the Portuguese. Who they were mainfested through their respective creations.

Paul claims the same about God: “What can be known about God is plain to [people], 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.”¹ So let’s pause and listen to what creation proclaims of its Maker.

God’s irrefutable authority. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”²

God’s sovereign power. “Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?”³

God’s ubiquitous magnificence. “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. . . When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”⁴

God’s transcendent glory. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”⁵

God’s artistic brilliance. “O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all.”⁶

In Hebrews we read, “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”⁷ In turn, what we see speaks volumes about its unseen Maker. He is great. He is sovereign. He loves us. We can trust Him.

Father, grace me to quiet my soul before You, that I might marvel in what You have made and know You better as its Maker. In Christ I pray. Amen.