Spending Time in God’s Creation

One of my favorite spots on Earth is at Sunset Beach on the wild west coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

Rather than staying at the main beach, I would pick my way around the rocky coastline. The route passed numerous tidal pools, each housing an underwater garden of shellfish, seaweed and tiny fish that darted for cover as they sensed my presence.

Eventually, I found a high rock nearly surrounded by water. This was the perfect place to sit and meditate. From here, I could look out over the huge breaking waves as they rolled into the bay while the sun set over the ocean.

During one visit to this spot, something caught my eye from atop my rock. A fur seal had been basking, undetected, on a small shoal of sand—a dark, sleek form against the shore. Now it clambered across the rocks toward me and the open sea. I watched, hardly breathing, as it approached. Finally, it reached the pool of water beneath the rock I was sitting on and plopped in. The creature began gliding, almost like a torpedo. Off to hunt fish!

I walked back along the shoreline feeling excited by this close encounter in such an inspiring setting. This experience put me more in awe of the God who created all things.

The ancient patriarch Job may have felt something similar when he declared: “Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto you. Who knows not in all these that the hand of the Lord has wrought this?” (12:7-9).

God wants us to learn from the natural world and the creatures in it. Every tree, bird and grain of sand speaks to His power and wisdom. When we take time to observe His Creation, we begin to see the fingerprints of our Creator all around us. It is amazing how much we can learn about Him by simply stepping outside.

Filled with Beauty

God made His Creation beautiful specifically for human beings. The Bible shows this from the very beginning of man’s existence.

He placed the first two humans in a beautiful garden, filled with “every tree that is pleasant to the sight [meaning enjoyable to look at], and good for food” (Gen. 2:9). Adam and Eve were surrounded by trees God had planted to fill their vision with beauty, and fruit and nuts designed to tantalize their taste buds. All of this was for their joy and benefit.

God Himself enjoyed the garden too, walking through it in the cool of the day (3:8). In Genesis 1:31, this was His assessment of the Garden of Eden, and everything that had been created: “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

While the Garden of Eden is now gone, there is still plenty of beauty on Earth today.

In the frantic rush of life, taking the time to enjoy a gorgeous setting can help you recharge, both physically and spiritually. Do a little research about parks and gardens in your area where you can be surrounded by flowers, trees and other natural sights.

Make time to get out and experience the beauty of Creation. When you do, take note of the little details in nature. Smell the scent of an apple blossom or breathe in the aromatic oil of a freshly crushed evergreen leaf. Carefully watch the way the sunlight shines, diffused, through the leafy canopy of a tree.

A prime source of awe is the spectacle of a sunrise or sunset. Twice a day, every day, the sky becomes a great canvas of vivid colors, with hues that change from minute to minute. No two of these displays are alike. God bookends each day with reminders of His creativity, which are invitations to pause and reflect on Him.

Another way to observe and appreciate Creation’s beauty is to begin keeping a garden. Even a well-placed pot or planter inside your home as its own tiny garden can add an element of natural grace.

By tending these plants, you get to watch the miracle of life growing from nothing more than a seed, light, air, water and soil. And if you are growing vegetables, you can also taste the exquisite flavors God made.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God “has made everything beautiful in [its] time.” God made Creation beautiful for our enjoyment, and this beauty points back to Him.

Let the Beasts Teach You

Animals are more than fascinating—they are teachers, built to reflect the brilliance of their Creator. Job wrote that the beasts, birds, fish and the earth all declare God’s handiwork (12:7-10). When we observe the animal kingdom, we catch glimpses of God’s wisdom, balance and intentional design.

From the beginning, God intended man to learn from animals. On the very first day of Adam’s life, God brought each creature to him “to see what he would call them” (Gen. 2:19). This was not just a practical task—it was a teaching moment. As Adam studied and named each animal, he would have noticed that they came in pairs: male and female. Yet for all their variety, none were like him (vs. 20). Only then did God give the man Eve, the companion he had come to realize he lacked.

Consider the greatness of God’s mind in designing each one of His creatures. Each has remarkable traits tailored to its ecological role. In their natural habitat, different species of animals and birds are designed to work together to manage an environment in a balanced, natural state. It is all possible through the instinct that God has placed in them.

The seas, like the land, are teeming with life. Again, every species has its own unique role to play. Without human intervention, they maintain balance on their own—exactly as God intended.

You may not need to go far to observe wildlife. The birds in the trees in your yard can be fascinating to watch, working tirelessly to forage for food, claim their territory and build nests. All the while, they are managing pests, pollinating flowers, spreading seeds, fertilizing trees with their droppings, and performing a host of other tasks, just as God intended.

Jesus Christ used birds as an example to teach His followers about faith. He said, “Consider the ravens…God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:24). Also read Matthew 6:26. When we watch birds tirelessly gather food, build nests and tend their young, we are reminded that God is actively sustaining them—and us.

Observing animals in a zoo allows us to see the strength, grace or intelligence that God built into different species. Whether we look at a tiger’s grace and agility or a spider monkey’s flexibility and grip strength, each animal reminds us that God formed life with purpose and variety.

While they may not feature as many exotic animals, a petting zoo or farmyard will let you get up close and personal to feed the animals.

Seeing creatures in their natural habitat often requires taking a trip to wherever they live. The Church’s Headquarters campus is unusual in that we have an abundance of birds, insects, deer and other animals roaming freely. Consider visiting sometime to see this for yourself. But you may have a state park or nature reserve near you that you can take advantage of, too.

Throughout the Bible, God uses animals to teach spiritual lessons. Read Proverbs 30:24-28, Job 39, Psalm 104:24-25 and Matthew 10:16. Observing animals reinforces these lessons in our minds.

If wildlife is scarce in your area, seek out opportunities where you are. You can also use documentaries, magazines and nature books to learn more—letting them stir your appreciation for God’s incredible designs across the globe.

Awe-inspiring Power

Creation also reveals a taste of God’s immense power. Just as Job was taught about God’s greatness by observing the animals, David was filled with awe as he gazed into the night sky.

This ancient king felt insignificant in comparison: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man, that You are mindful of him? And the son of man, that You visit him?” (Psa. 8:3-4).

These magnificent celestial bodies reminded David of the smallness of man and the greatness of God. They do the same for us. God says, “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number” (Isa. 40:26).

We are meant to feel tiny—not in a negative way, but to help us remember God, who holds all power yet invites us to have a personal relationship with Him.

Whenever you are away from city areas at night, seize the opportunity to gaze up into the clear night sky. Look for a dark sky park near you where stars can be more easily viewed. If you are really interested, consider buying a telescope and learning to identify specific constellations.

Without pollution from surrounding lights, you may see thousands of stars. Many of these are thousands of light years away. Ponder the greatness of the Being who made them. There are an estimated 200 billion-trillion stars in the universe. Then consider that God made them billions of years ago and they are still burning brightly!

God even has names for them: “Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of His great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing” (Isa. 40:26, New Living Translation).

Human languages simply do not have enough alphabet letters to name all the stars, let alone to give them meaningful names—yet God does. The greatness of God surpasses anything we can comprehend or describe in our own words.

All of this vastness is in perfect order. Our own solar system, Earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun and the moon’s orbit around the Earth are so perfectly calibrated that we tell the time by them. Truly, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1).

Looking out over the ocean is another way to put our size and God’s power into perspective. Take a walk along the beach if you are near the seaside. The Earth’s vast oceans stretch far beyond the visible horizon and cover over two-thirds of the globe. Yet God has set clear boundaries for these massive bodies of water. Their “proud waves” are “stayed” (Job 38:11) as they continuously wash ashore with their rhythmic ebb and flow.

We can also see God’s greatness in the thrilling power of a thunderstorm (watching from the safety of the indoors). Psalm 135:7 says: “He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.” Storms—the clouds, the lightning, the wind and the rain—are God’s workmanship.

While watching a violent storm, we can imagine what it may have been like for the Israelites to be in God’s presence at Mount Sinai (Ex. 19), or Elijah later, in the cave on Mount Horeb (I Kgs. 19).

The sheer vastness of the universe, the immensity of the sea and the raw power of a violent storm help us reflect on God’s greatness.

Step Outside

Much like the fur seal that quietly revealed itself one evening, lessons from God’s Creation often come when we simply pause, look closely and observe. Whether it is the discipline of birds, the brilliant hues of a flower, or the vastness of the night sky, Creation continually points us back to the Creator.

We are surrounded by evidence of God’s mind and power everywhere we turn. One simply has to step outside into the natural world to observe what He put there for all to see.

Do not neglect the precious opportunity to learn more about God in such an enjoyable yet profound way. As it did for Job and David, the natural world can teach you about God’s hand.

Romans 1:20 says, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” God has put them there for us to plainly see—we just have to take the time to look.

Set a goal to spend more time in Creation. Let time outside inspire reflection, prayer and gratitude. Use what you see to better understand the One who made it all.

Step outside—and let the Earth, the universe and everything in them teach you about God, the Being who made all things for your benefit.