Steep To Christ
Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love. Our Father in
heaven is the source of life of wisdom and of joy. Look at the
wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvellous
adaptation in the needs and happiness, not only of man but of all
living creatures. The sunshine and the rain that gladden and refresh
the earth, the hills and seas and plains all speak to us of the
Creator’s love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all his
creatures. In the beautiful words of the Psalmist, “The eyes of all
wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou
openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
(Psalm 145:15-16)
God made man perfectly, holy and happy and the fair earth as it came
from the Creator’s hand bore no blight or decay or shadow of the
curse. It is transgression of God’s law, the law of love, that has
brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from
sin, God’s love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground
for man’s sake. (Gen.3:17). The thorn and the thistle, the
difficulties and trials that make this life one of toil and care were
appointed for his good, as a part of the training in God’s plan for his
uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought.
The world though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature
itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers up, the
thistles and thorns are covered with roses. “God is love” is written
upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass, the
lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the
delicately tinted flowers in their perfection, perfuming the air, the
lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green all
testify to the tender fatherly care of our God and to his desire to
make his children happy.
The Word of God reveals his character, he himself has declared his
infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed “shew my thy glory”, The
Lord answered “I will make all my goodness pass before thee”.
(Ex.33:18-19). This is his glory, “The Lord passed by before him, and
proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” (Ex.34:6-7).
“He is slow to anger and of great kindness” (Jonah 4:2) “because he
delighteth in mercy.” (Micah 7:18). God has bound our hearts to him by
unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth through the things of nature
and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know,
he has sought to reveal himself to us.
Bro. Fibion Ngozi (Banket, Zimbabwe)
