Photo by Paul Venturo
It certainly wasn’t Colorado. And we were a little sad to be here. We had left behind the glorious snowy mountains, rugged landscapes, and breathtaking views for the humble little town of Kimball, Nebraska, set dismally in the middle of a great expanse of brownish grassland. And the campground we found ourselves in wasn’t one of our particular favorites. A speck in the middle of a vast span of prairie, it was cramped, crowded, and grungy.
But as the week wore on, we began to see that creation is creation, and even in a place so drab as this, that has little to compare with the magnificent grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, God’s handiwork is evident.
Across the street from our campground, we found a long dirt road stretching through the grassy fields. Here we enjoyed many a fine evening and night walk. We would start in the evening when the air was cool. As the sun sank lower into the horizon, the sky began to glow fiercely with color. Fiery reds and oranges and pinks, reflecting off of billowing fluffy clouds filled the sky over the wide stretches of gently waving grasses. As the sky grew darker and the colors faded, lightning would flash far off in the distance, lighting up the dark clouds surrounding it.
We watched a striped skunk snuffling through the grass. We gazed at beautiful horses, sleek and shiny, grazing and tossing their manes in the sunset. And we knew our God had done it. He had created it all.
Psalm 19:1 tells us that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” This is true. On a snowy summit in Colorado it is true, and on a grassy flat in the Great Plains, it is true. Our God is incredible.
Wherever you live, next time you are outside, look around. Whether you live in the country or the city, the plains or the mountains, take some time to look at and listen for God’s creation. The tiny flower peeping out of a crack in the cement. A songbird flying overhead. The cool breeze. A chirping cricket. The flaming sunset and the terrific thunderstorm. There’s so much to see and appreciate if you really take the time to. And when you see all these things, take time to thank God for these little gifts that He’s given you. He doesn’t have to make them. He doesn’t have to care about all the little details. But He does. And the amazing God Who created all these things is the same God Who knows and cares about you. He knows your sitting down and your rising up (Ps. 139:2). He knows how many hairs are on your head (Matthew 10:30). And He loves you so much, He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for your sin. He died on a cross, was buried, and rose from the dead to destroy death and the devil, and to deliver you from their power and from His just wrath. It’s unbelievable, right?
How can we do anything less than pour out our hearts, our lives, our everything before Him? How can we do anything less than to go out as He has commanded and share this wonderful message with our friends, neighbors, and co-workers?
May every little gift of nature you notice today remind you of your Creator, of your Savior, and of your duty to Him.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.