Creation Interprets God

Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” 

Creation Interprets God         

              Have you ever heard of the word pantheism? Pantheism is the belief that the Universe, nature, food, water, people, is god. Pantheist believe that everything is god. Pantheism is the absolute opposite of atheism in that the atheist believe that there is no god. We know that there is a God but He is not everything. However, everything does interpret who God is.

                Isn’t it odd for Paul to say God’s invisible attributes have been clearly seen? If they are invisible, how can they be seen? This is impossible for the unbelieving and this is who Paul is referring to in Romans 1:20 but, he says, they are without excuse. Why? Because they are clearly seen through what has been made. We who have been born of God’s Spirit can see His invisible attributes when we make Christ the center of our lives.

               Genesis 1:3 says, “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Light is a created material that scientist call electromagnetic radiation. There is visible light and non-visible light. There is a whole science about light. All it took was a word from God to make light exist. There has never been a time in which He has not had the power to speak things into creation. This is His eternal power.

                Light has good qualities. Think about all the problems we would have if we did not have light. The sun provides a source of energy and nutrients. It’s doesn’t just cause us to see things but it sustains life as well. Peoples moods are often brighter and chipper when the sun is shining brightly. Why? Because light is good. Why? Because God’s divine nature is being understood through light.

                Light also helps us understand the relationship between Jesus and His Father. Light is radiation that comes from a source of energy like the sun. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. Jesus is the radiance of Gods ability to create and sustain creation. The Son is the radiation of the Fathers compassion, grace, loving-kindness, truth, forgiveness, and justice. Our Lord is the eternal radiation of God’s eternal power and divine nature. Creation was not designed to supersede this relationship between the Father and Son. Creation helps us understand the relationship better.

                Creation also helps us understand the Fathers love for us. All of creation is full of life giving attributes of which flow directly out of the heart of God, through Jesus Christ and into our hearts. Creation is an example of what God loves to do. Jeremiah 9:24 reads, “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” Light is source of loving-kindness from the Father as we are the direct recipients of light which points us to His Son who is the radiation of God’s love for us.    

                Using an example like light can help us understand what Paul was talking about in Romans 1:20. When we understand this truth we can see how creation interprets God. Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Let’s take refuge in Him and be satisfied in Him, not creation!