The Biblical Illustrator
Isaiah 44:24
I am the Lord that maketh all things
The Maker of heaven and earth
Our object is, not so much to discover from the creation the truth of the being and character of the Creator, as to see how the Christian belief in Him as Maker must influence us about the world He has made.
Trust Him as the Fatherly God, who is indeed Maker of heaven and earth, and what will follow?
I. SUCH A TRUST WILL ENSURE YOUR RIGHT ATTITUDE WITH REGARD TO SCIENCE.
1. It will free you from all alarm as to the contradictions between science and the Scripture.
2. But our Christian belief should not only take away all dread of science, it should inspire its earnest pursuit. For it is the study of the work of God; a solution of His problems. The stars gleam with the glory of God, the flowers are fragrant with His sweetness; so that astronomy and botany, as well as all the sciences, have been well called “sections of theology.”
II. SUCH A TRUST IN GOD AS THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH QUALIFIES YOU FOR RIGHT USE AND ENJOYMENT OF NATURE. He who believes in the Creator with all his heart will be altogether a different man in trade or travel, in manufacture of the earth’s productions, search into her secrets, or enjoyment of her scenery, from the man who darkly doubts--not to say from the man who impiously denies. For such a belief excludes the Manichaean heresy, that matter is the creation of evil. It gives to man that vision and voice about nature that were vouchsafed to Peter when he was taught to call nothing “common or unclean.” He who has the spirit of Jesus Christ, who is reconciled by Him and taught by Him about God, will cherish Christ’s spirit about nature.
III. SUCH A TRUST IN GOD INSPIRES WITH HOPE ABOUT THE DESTINY OF CREATION. There is much that is saddening and bewildering in some of the aspects of creation. “The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain”. In the midst of such reflections, a great hope glows in the heart that believes in God as “the maker of heaven and earth.” For then He is not only seen as a Redeemer mercifully interposing to alleviate misfortune and to restore some from ruin; but He is known to be the utterly good God, whose goodness is “over all His works,” over creation as much as over redemption. He is a “faithful Creator.” He will care for His own; will bring it to the destiny for which He made it.
IV. SUCH A TRUST IN GOD IS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Jesus has to do with nature, with us, and with God. He is “the Door” into nature. Connect all with Jesus, and we shall connect all with God. (U. R. Thomas, B. A.)