Monday; January 29

          Why did God create the such beautiful flowers and amazing wildlife?  I think it is easy to understand why God created mankind, but when it comes to things like birds and flowers, why did He invest His creative energy in them?  Sure, a case might be made for them being sustenance for humans, but even that answer begs the question, “Why did He create such beautiful plants and such eye-catching animals?”.  If sustenance were the issue, a bland green plant and an ugly bird would serve the purpose just fine.
          I don’t profess to know the wisdom of God, but one answer might be to remind us of His Awesome Power.  Let me see if I can explain.  When we see a beautiful rose or an amazing orchid, it gets our attention doesn’t it!  When we see the flash of a blue jay, the intense red of a cardinal or the regal coloring of a pheasant it has the ability to stop us in our tacks.  We see things that are appealing to us.  When we notice these creations it can serve as a reminder of just how much God cares about us.  Jesus explained it this way, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!”. (Luke 12:27-28)  Jesus used a similar comparison to the birds as an assurance that God would take care of our physical needs and summed it up by saying, “Are you not worth much more than they?”. (Matthew 6:26)  Could it be that nature’s beauty is for more than our enjoyment, it is also for our edification?  The “flash of color” might be what catches our eye, but God’s presence in our world is the lesson we learn.
          Let’s not forget to look around and enjoy nature.  Even more importantly, let’s make sure to look around and praise God!
          Think About It!

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