Beautiful Places pt 1

BEAUTIFUL PLACES

(Part 1)

          We serve a loving God who has provided us with everything we need.  Not only has he supplied what is needed, but he gives in excess of our needs.  These are good thoughts that man should dwell on in order to fully appreciate God's love and majesty.

          Spring brings with it an explosion of beauty and new life.  It reassures us that God sustains our physical existence in great measure.  Not only does he provide new life and the fruit of the earth through it; but, he goes beyond need and cloaks it in stunning beauty.  Far beyond the necessity of regenerating life alone.  Man should truly appreciate this beauty because it manifests God's great love for us.

          Through this beauty God supplies man evidence of who he is so that man is without excuse to understand that a divine being has created all things far beyond necessity.  Paul tells us, "...because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,...(Romans 1:19, 20)"  These attributes of God or so magnificient that they can be clearly seen and understood so that man is without excuse.  Even the non-believer confirms this in his desire to admire the wonder of God's creation.

          Spring is also the season of school breaks and travel for a lot of families in our country.  People dispurse around the country on spring breaks to soak in the grandure of God's creation. They rush to destinations which man has recognized as exceptionally beautiful and powerful places.  Places that have been memorialized and made attractions or destinations to display the beauty and power of God's creation.  And in most cases, the magnificence of many of these places is to the extent that great profit can be made from them. This proves man realizes and comprehends God's greatness whether he gives God the glory for it or not.  In Romans chapter one, Paul goes on to explain what the failure to give God the glory for his handiwork brings on.

          As great as the beauty of this world is though, God still yet goes beyond man's expectations by creating a place far greater than any wonder of the world, a place called Heaven.  God's love is truly endless.  Next month, we will address Heaven in part two.

-Marc Hopkins