DEVOTION – DAY 140

Roman 1:20-21 “God’s Presence Is Everywhere”

 

Rom.1:20-21 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

 

I was drawn to a short video made by a woman living in Iceland. In Mar 2021, a volcano close to the capital city erupted sending lava flows in several directions. She was very excited and when it was deemed safe, she went as near as she could to the lava fields to video the volcanic activity. She visited the lava fields over several days and even went at night to see the lava flows glowing red hot in the surrounding darkness. She sensed the great power that sent the molten hot lava out of the volcano’s crater from deep within. She was in awe by the majesty of what she saw. She kept saying she was so lucky to see “Mother nature” in action. She was an example of someone that Paul referred to in these verses from Rom.1:20-21.

This woman is not alone. There are many people in this world who think like her. They admire beautiful scenery, sunrises and sunsets. They love to snorkel or scuba dive amongst live coral reefs. They are fascinated by the animal kingdom and would love to go on safaris if given the chance. They look up at the night skies and marvel at the numerous stars. They call them the wonders of mother nature. They fail to acknowledge that it is God who is the Creator of everything they call nature. God displays His power every time lightning strikes, and thunder claps. God displays His power when the earth quakes and trembles, when winds are whipped up into hurricanes and tornadoes. God shows His power when volcanoes erupt. The beauty and complexity of creation bears testimony to His eternal power and divine nature. It is there for all to see but people choose to ignore Him. Instead, they prefer to worship the sun, or the moon or even the stars rather than acknowledge His existence. This is because their thinking is futile and their hearts are darkened. God’s power and presence is evident all around us and yet, many people choose to ignore Him. They offend God by praising “mother nature” instead, like the Icelandic woman getting excited at seeing the lava fields. Thus, even if people have never heard of Jesus Christ or read the Bible, the apostle Paul said in Rom.1, that no one has any excuse not to know God because evidence of Him is all around us.

Let us pray: Dear Father, we worship you for you are awesome in power and you are the Almighty Creator of the Universe. Your presence is inescapable. We pray for unbelievers that their spiritual eyes will be opened to acknowledge you as God. May you be merciful to them. In the great name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. Why do you think people choose to attribute creation to idols, or to “mother nature”? Discuss.
  2. What do you think causes people’s spiritual blindness? Discuss.
  3. Why do you think God made His presence so obvious for all to see?
  4. How can you help someone who is just like the people described in this devotion to know about God?