“Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”[1]
“The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.”[2]
Anyone attempting to think theologically, that is any believer who is serious about applying the truth of God’s Word in their lives, must begin with an understanding of the nature and character of God. The simplest child and the most learned philosopher both can learn of His nature. First and foremost is the fact that God has indeed revealed Himself. The world in which we live points to more than just a random accident, the universe in which our world spins on its axis speaks of a design that demands more than just the answer that it is all random.
This revelation is defined and described by theologians and philosophers as two fold. There is general revelation- which the Psalmist described in Psalm 19:1-4:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
Certainly not everyone sees the plan of God and hears His voice when they observe the natural world. The reason: most people are seeing only what they choose to see. Even as believers we are often caught in the trap of seeing the world around us through the eyes of our middle school science class- as the result of a random series of molecules that happened to be at the right place and the right time.
Learning to discover the presence and personality of God in His creation requires that we learn how to see and listen all over again. We are called on to look beyond what we are accustomed to seeing and begin to see the depth and the complexity of what God has done. We are called to listen more carefully to the rich and diverse sounds of creation all around us.
To change how we see and how we hear requires a spiritual transformation. Unless the Spirit of God somehow grants us new life- and the ability to see and hear spiritual truth and spiritual reality- we are dead to the true wonders of God’s creation.
WINSTON COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 