nature speaks

God is green. he's actually the original green. after spending days in the creation of all we know, he declared over it, "it is good." he likes his stuff. he should.

he placed man in an idyllic environment and said, "tend and keep." the word "tend" is the same word used to describe the priests roles in caring for the tabernacle in the old testament. it's as if he considers the nature around us as a holy sanctuary. we are custodians in his house. the trees and the animals of nature are our god given responsibility.

this is where the law of reciprocity kicks in. if i care for his stuff, it will minister back to me in a time of need. the bible says that creation declares the invisible attributes of god...even his godhead. the psalms says that creation speaks a language understood by all nations. creation groans. it calls for us to be true men and women of god. its the artwork of god that speaks to his quality. it points to his attributes.

several years ago, friends in england treated me to theatre in london. we had third row seats in "miss saigon." it was captivating. lights were dimmed, the orchestra was ascending the moment, and a helicopter landed on stage. at that moment, i wasn't in a london theatre, but instead was translated in time and geography to the airlift in saigon, 1975. the music, the backdrop, the actors captured my imagination and took me to another place. they commandeered my focus.

nature is god's stagecraft. it tells the story of god. its fragrance, backdrop and creatures all declare his glory. the message is clear. god is near.

this is why film theaters instruct us to turn off our cell phones and not talk. it breaks the focus. it pulls you back to reality. it minimizes the content. when i see someone throwing garbage out the window of their car, it unsettles me. they are disturbing the story. they are interrupting the flow. pollution is a hellish attempt to silence the voice that has spoken through nature since the beginning. robbery and destruction are the job description of the devil himself.

protect his sanctuary...it may be wanting to communicate with you.