Spring rejuvenates flowering dogwood, cherry, pear and the vibrant colors of trees in blossom. Summer reveals the beauty of myriad shapes of leaves gifting you with delightful shade in the heat of the sun. Deciduous trees in the fall erupt into a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors. Who cannot marvel at the feast for the eyes of fall foliage in brilliant hues? Such a grand opportunity for exuberant praise of the magnificent God whom we adore! Creation is a bold evangelist; calling for commensurate response from all creatures who bear the image of their Creator. The predominant truth in Isaiah 55 where our text is found is, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”(Isaiah 55:6-7) This is the song of the trees; the reason their “hands” clap. Shouldn’t this be your response as your eyes survey the spectacular colors of the fall? Seek the Artist whose paintbrush is untiring; call on Him who is quite near, right before your eyes, as the trees He husbands reveal the brilliance of His strokes. Be compelled to forsake wicked ways and thoughts, and return to His fortress to bask in the abundance of His love and protection.
If you would see and hear Him through His creation, pierce your ears to hear and open your eyes to see. Does the artistry of man surpass this? Will it form the same language of saving grace and comfort which we observe in the beauty of the earth unless it mimics His grace? Many are too distracted by poor technological substitutes (television, cinema, cell phones, computers, culture noise) to enjoy what the trees are telling you about the One who made you. Creation as many may presume is not deaf and dumb. “The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2) It is a shame if your ears are tone deaf to the Creator, verbose through the remarkable craftsmanship of His creation which displays His character. Relish the sights and sing God’s praise. Talk to those beside you with adoration for Him concerning your spirit’s testimony prompted by the sight and insight of your eyes enlightened in His Word. Share the message out loud of the trees’ acclamation with your children, family, and friends. The Psalmist does, why not you? Do not squander these opportunities of grace. You will spurn the abundant compassion of the Lord if your mind and heart remain frigid to the voice of God’s creation, in which you live, and move, and have your being.
Many an unbelieving eye has been mesmerized by the glory of the earth, or a pagan poet moved to pen singing words describing the wonders of nature, but the Psalmist tells us undeniably that the heavens are proclaiming the glory of God. If the sights and sounds of creation do not elicit the knowledge and action of Isaiah 55:6-7 then the beauty and magnificence of creation will be your only reward; a “reward” which will be destroyed, and for you be no more for eternity. The one who is moved by the language pouring forth from creation to seek the Lord while He may be found, and return to Him for abundant pardon, will see the new heaven and new earth and live within it forever. Hence, you are still blind and deaf if you merely delight in creation without delighting in and praising the One who made it; and hear the message which He proclaims in His handiwork.
As you see, hear, and contemplate the glory of God in the things He has made, even in the midst of another colorful fall, the conclusion of the matter is as David finishes Psalm 19: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Enjoy the color in expressive praise![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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