2. “For now we see in
a
mirror, dimly, but
then face to face.
Now I know in
part, but then I
shall know just as
I also am known”
(1 Corinthians 13:12)
The psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His
handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). We can find proof of the existence of a Creator in us and in the
nature around us; a Creator who perfectly designed this world.
Nevertheless, when we seeing the predators, the natural disasters that kill thousands in a
second, etc… many people doubt whether that Creator exists or is a kind Creator.
The truth is that we can only see the reality “darkly”. If we want to fully understand the
relationship between God and His creation and how nature reveals Him, we must first
understand some concepts.
1. God’s sovereignty.
2. The threefold curse of Earth.
3. Satan’s work.
4. The limitations of human wisdom.
5. The limitations of the general revelation in contrast to the
special one.
3. “The earth is the Lord’s, and
all its fullness, the world and
those who dwell therein. For
He has founded it upon the
seas, and established it upon
the waters” (Psalm 24:1-2)
The Bible states that God created everything
we know. So God is owner and sovereign of
everything.
Satan claims that he is the owner of this world, but
God still is the absolute sovereign.
Nevertheless, He loves us and decided to pay a
ransom for us. He then became our sovereign in
two ways, as Creator and as Redeemer.
“But now, thus says the
Lord, who created you, O
Jacob, and He who formed
you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I
have redeemed you; I have
called you by your name; you
are Mine”
4. FIRST CURSE, THORNS AND THISTLES
• “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and
have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat
of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of
your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat
the herb of the field.”” (Genesis 3:17-18)
SECOND CURSE, THE EARTH LOST ITS STRENGTH
• “So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive
your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no
longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the
earth” (Genesis 4:11-12)
THIRD CURSE, THE FLOOD
• “And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will
never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s
heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have
done”” (Genesis 8:21)
“When the faithful dead shall be resurrected, and the king of glory shall open before them the gates of
the city of God, and the nations who have kept the truth enter in, what beauty and glory will meet the
astonished sight of those who have seen no greater beauties in the earth than that which they beheld in
decaying nature after the threefold curse was upon the earth” (E.G.W., Spiritual Gifts, vol.3, p.88)
5. “Then I heard a loud voice saying in
heaven, “Now salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our
God, and the power of His Christ have
come, for the accuser of our
brethren, who accused them before our
God day and night, has been cast down.
And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, and they did not love their
lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O
heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe
to the inhabitants of the earth and the
sea! For the devil has come down to
you, having great wrath, because he
knows that he has a short time.”” (Revelation
12:10-12)
6. “Satan, with all his masterly power, has interposed himself between man and
the law of God, that through falsehood and sophistry he may inspire men with
the same rebellion against God and his law as actuates himself. Those whom he
can not deceive, he hates. He misinterprets their words and actions, and causes
the world to persecute and destroy, in order that earth may hold no soul who is
not in league with the prince of this world and the ruler of its darkness.
History testifies to the fact
that no man can serve God
without coming in conflict
with the united forces of evil.
The conflict between the
believer and his foes may be
painful and protracted, and
at times the soul
may, through manifold
temptations, yield to the
power of the evil one; but
God will not give his servant
up to be the prey of the
destroyer as long as he cries
unto him” E.G.W. (The Signs of the Times, November 14, 1895)
7. “The wise men are ashamed, they As humans, we have gained an
are dismayed and taken. incredible amount of knowledge and
Behold, they have rejected the information, especially in the last two
word of the Lord; so what wisdom hundred years. Knowledge and
do they have?” (Jeremiah 8:9) information, however, are not
necessarily the same thing as wisdom.
We have also gained a much greater
understanding of the natural world than
our forefathers ever had. A greater
understanding, however, isn’t the same
We may only understand the thing as wisdom either.
world around us when we see it “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His
from the divine perspective. mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice, and
preserves the way of His saints. Then you
will understand righteousness and
justice, equity and every good path. When
wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is
pleasant to your soul” (Proverbs 2:6-10)
8. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows
His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night
reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2)
For the believer, the Creation surely speaks of God’s care. Nevertheless, although the
testimony of Creation is strong, its revelation is incomplete because of the result of sin and
the curse after the fall.
That’s the reason why God uses a special revelation through prophets, dreams and visions
in addition to that general revelation. He specially revealed Himself through Jesus
Christ, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)
9. “Creation speaks to us of the skill and power of God. In His
goodness God has placed on the earth beautiful flowers and
trees, wonderfully adapted to the countries and the climate in
which they grow. And, though sin has marred the form and
beauty of the things of nature, though on them there may be
seen traces of the work of the prince of the power of the air, yet
they still speak of God, and still reveal some of the beauty of
Eden.
In the heavens above, in the earth, in the broad waters of the
ocean, we see the handiwork of God. All creation testifies of His
power, His wisdom, His love. Yet not from the stars, or the
ocean, or the cataract can we learn of the personality of God.
This Christ came to reveal…
Christ came to reveal to a fallen race the love
of God. He, the Light of the world, veiled the
dazzling splendor of the brightness of His
divinity, and came to live on this earth as a
man among men, that they might, without
being consumed, become acquainted with their
Creator. No man has seen God at any
time, except as He is revealed through Christ”
E.G.W. (The upward look, November 16)
