Darkness. The trees whip themselves against each other as if to escape their rooting. Wind and rain tears at the windows and streetlights struggle to hold their light steady. Leaves and branches are carried upwards and thrown with such force as a bullwhip. There is violence in the heavens as fronts collide; each pushing against the other like two rams locking horns on a mountain pass. Behind the curtain of night and storm the sun awaits her cue. Another day is upon us; ushered in with the pains and throes of childbirth. Not with quietness and birdsong but with the thrashing and pushing of two heavyweights in a prize fight.
What a world. What a creation.
Its midnight in the Arizona desert and bats descend on cacti to drink the nectar of flowers that bloom just once a year. They come from Mexico and are migrating north. They cannot make the trip during any other time of year because the desert is too vast and long. But with this blooming they time their trip to re-fuel along the way. How do they know to do this?
Bubbles rise and explode on the surface in a circular pattern in the frigid Antarctic waters. Then, in a moment, the largest mammals the world has ever seen arise gracefully in a blow of air and water. The humpback whales are feeding on krill. Unspoken but working together these hundred ton animals work together by swimming deep, blowing bubbles in a circular pattern that rise to the surface forming a net of air that trap the krill in a central area giving the whales an easy buffet. Who taught them this?
A man wipes the steam from his mirror as he starts to shave. Another morning comes and he prepares for work. A plate of half-eaten toast rests on the edge of the sink and the tiny radio, precariously propped on the windowsill, tells of early morning traffic woes. This man, looking like everyone else, is a priest in His kingdom; his name written in the Book of Life, a soul now sealed and forgiven by the blood of Christ. He ties his tie, still with a stain of ketchup on the corner. He is royalty. A sinner saved by grace.
Who would offer this gift? Who would do this?
Our Father would. What a God.
“Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. “ Ephesians 1:4,5
