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Last updated on
Oct. 5, 2004

Seeing the Invisible God

Delivered August 1, 2004
by Pastor Werner De Jong

Text: Romans 1:18-23

Main Idea: We can learn a lot about our invisible God by looking at the visible world he has made.

Purpose: To challenge the listeners to give attention to God's creation, and to honour, give thanks, worship and serve the Creator. To encourage the listeners that the eternal, powerful God of creation cares for them and will support and sustain those who trust in him.

(Note: This sermon was preached as part of an outdoor church picnic/worship service at the Bunnett's house on the Beckwith Road).

Introduction: Last week, on a typically warm, muggy July day I decided to go for a bike ride. Without much forethought I left just before noon, when the sun was high in the sky, permeating the entire countryside with its heat. I started my trip in the cool shade of the woods, at Hannah's parents' cottage, only a few kilometres down this same road. But after climbing their long driveway the rest of my ride was on asphalt, under the naked gaze of the sun. I cycled right past this house and turned left where the Beckwith Road ends, just before the old cement plant. By that time I was already hot and sweaty, especially as the trip to that point was primarily uphill.

      I was starting to question the wisdom of my decision until I made a right hand turn onto Hicks Settlement Road, where Ridgebrook Lumber is located. I had never been on it before, but I like exploring, and it was an easy decision to make, because the road immediately dipped into a long downhill stretch. It wasn't so much the thrill of the hill that lifted my spirits, but the beautiful scene that spread out before me. The road goes down and then up again, forming a little valley, and then it swings sharply to the right at the far ridge. Across the valley, on that ridge, just where the road turns, there is a well-kept farm. Fields of grain (or maybe it was sileage) swept down the hill from the farmhouse, and at the bottom I recall zooming past a little potato patch. The whole scene was bathed in the bright light of the summer sun, and framed by the wooded forest in the background. As I surveyed the panorama my heart was instantly refreshed. All the exertion to get there was more than worthwhile. It didn't hurt that the wind was rushing by my face and cooling me considerably as I sped downhill! Sometimes it is just so good to be outside and enjoying nature; we never know when we are going to be surprised by the beauty in everyday scenes. And of course we don't have to be on a bike to experience it. Our hearts can be stirred simply by walking around our property, riding on a tractor, hiking in the woods, even looking out a window. The world around us is so beautiful, and it is healing for the soul to soak it in.

Creation Reveals God: As I carried on with my bike ride I found myself thanking God for his creation, as well as for giving us the ability to appreciate it. And then a question popped into my mind: If the world God has made is so beautiful, what does that tell us about God? Can we learn about God by looking at the things he has made? The Bible answers with a resounding "Yes!" Today's reading from Psalm 19, for example, began with these poetic words: "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvellous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak, night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word..." (Psalm 19:1-3a, NLT). In other words, for those who have the eyes to see it, creation reveals God. God is invisible to us, but we can learn a lot about our invisible God by looking at the visible world he has made.

      In our main Bible reading from Romans 1 the apostle Paul makes that very point. Listen again to his words: "Ever since the creation of the world God's eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made" (Rom. 1:20, NRSV). This is profound teaching which has very practical implications for those who are curious to learn more about what God is like. Usually when we think of learning about God, we think about reading and studying the Bible. There is absolutely no substitute for the Bible, we believe it is divinely inspired, we believe that when the Bible speaks, God speaks. But the Bible itself encourages us to look at nature, to look at God's craftsmanship, for it is always possible to learn something about people by their handiwork. Do they put pride into their work? Do they produce something slipshod, or something of quality? Will it last, or will it soon fall apart?

      We can learn even more about an artist when we look at the aesthetic quality of what they have made. A person who looks at a masterpiece by Rembrandt or Van Gogh can gain considerable insight into the artist. Serious art students sometimes spend hours meditating on a single painting. They consider the artist's use of colour and light. They look at the fine detail as well as the broad perspective. They consider what emotions the painting evokes. They question why the artist chose to paint this particular picture. And in so doing they not only learn about art, but they learn a good deal about the artists themselves. The more paintings they look at, the more they can learn about any one artist.

      In this regard, the whole creation is God's canvas. Art students often have to visit museums in Europe in order to look at the original works of the great masters; we simply have to step outside of our houses. For God has left evidence of himself everywhere in the world he created. And Paul argues that he did so quite deliberately. For God wants people to know him, so the Creator has left behind countless tantalizing clues. His fingerprints are on everything he has made. Therefore, as Richard Foster writes, "Give your attention to the created order. Look at the trees, really look at them. Take a flower and allow its beauty and symmetry to sink deep into your mind and heart. Listen to the birds–they are the messengers of God. Watch the little creatures that creep upon the earth. These are humble acts, to be sure, but sometimes God reaches us profoundly in these simple ways if we will quiet ourselves to listen" (Celebration of Discipline, p.31).

What Creation Reveals about God: This gives rise to the question–If God has deliberately revealed himself in the things he has made, what can we learn about our invisible God by contemplating the visible world? The very best way to answer that question is not simply in a sermon but for each of us to take the time personally to meditate upon God's creation, and to consider what the trees, the flowers, the animals, the oceans and the heavens teach us about their Creator. There is no substitute for such direct engagement. We learn about God through creation when we study creation, when we appreciate it, when we open ourselves to listen to the silent voice of all that God has made. Now having said that, there is certainly still value in a teaching setting like this to begin to consider together what creation teaches us, in order to stimulate us on to further contemplation.

      In our text Paul highlights two general truths that creation teaches us about God. First of all, it bears testimony to God's "eternal power" (v. 20). One of the great things about living in the Maritimes is that the ocean is never far away. No matter where you are, you can jump in a car and arrive at a coastline in only a few hours, usually much less. It is almost impossible to spend any amount of time gazing out over the ocean without being enchanted by its power. Its waves, its breakers, its storms, its unexplored deeps, its diverse and fascinating sea-life, its enormous reach, connecting far flung continents, its ancient history and the stories it could tell of faraway places, of shipwreck and naval battles and exploration–all of it has a wonderful way of making us feel appropriately small. And when we remember that God created it, it fills us with awe at the thought of his great power. As Christians we are sometimes guilty of making our God too small, but spending time by the sea is a great antidote to that.

      Mark Harris tells a story of the time his father told him about a spot on the shores of Prince Edward Island, where his great-great-grandfather Edward Jorden, an immigrant from England, had chiselled words into the red sandstone cliffs of High Bank: "Why," writes Mark, "would an ambitious farmer, with all the demanding duties of day-to-day life, take time to carve words into a cliff? Why would he spend hours writing a message into sandstone on a shore so obviously vulnerable to erosion? These questions were running through my mind as I descended the cliffs toward the shore. I found the etchings, perhaps eight feet above the waterline. Though a century's storms had worn it down, the message, miraculously, was still there–one simple word carved into red sandstone, "ETERNITY" (Companions for Your Spiritual Journey, p. 117). As Mark's great-great-grandfather surveyed the ancient waters and cliffs of High Bank his heart was moved and he felt compelled to chisel out a witness to the eternal power and greatness of God.

      Creation not only reveals God's might. Secondly, Paul writes that creation also teaches us about God's divine nature. What does it teach us about God's nature? What can we learn about the character of God by looking around us? First of all, it tells that God appreciates beauty and is the supreme creative artist. God could have made the world simple and plain, he could have made it in black and white, he could have made it entirely flat, but he chose to make it elaborate and beautiful. Why? Could it be that God, like us, takes pleasure in making things? Could it be that God enjoys beauty? And could it be that God wanted us to have a beautiful home to live in? Why else would God give us the great gift of being able to appreciate beauty? As people created in the image of God, isn't that where we get our love of beauty, our desire to create, our artistic gifts? Creation teaches us that God is beautiful, and appreciates beauty, and wants to share his love of art and creativity with us.

      This leads into the next point: creation therefore also teaches us that God is good. Would an indifferent, uncaring God create a beautiful world and give us the ability to enjoy it? Only a good God would give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to smell and taste and touch. The goodness of God is also seen is his continual care for creation. In the book of Acts Luke records what Paul and Barnabas said when the citizens of Lystra wanted to worship them as gods. "Friends, we are merely human beings," they said. "But we have come to tell you about the living God, who made heaven and earth. He has never left himself without a witness. He always reminds you of his goodness, such as sending you rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts." And in our reading from Matthew, we heard Jesus tell of God's wonderful care for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. God's goodness is made visible in the generous and faithful way he continues to support all of life.

      Finally, and this is actually Paul's main point in the text, creation teaches that there must be a God. When Paul writes that creation bears witness to God's divine nature, he is not only referring to the attributes of God, like God's power, creativity, goodness, faithfulness and generosity. Ultimately he is saying that creation bears witness to divinity. Creation teaches us that there must be a God.

      There are countless illustrations we could look at which demonstrate that creation must have had a Designer. But the classic illustration comes from Sir Isaac Newton, who was a great scientist who believed in God. He had a friend who, like himself, was also a great scientist, but his friend did not believe in God. They often discussed their views concerning God, as their mutual interest in science drew them together. One day Newton had a skilful mechanic make him a miniature replica of our solar system. In the centre was a large golden sphere representing the sun and revolving in their proper order around it were smaller spheres fixed on the ends of arms of varying lengths, representing the planets. These balls were so geared together by cogs and belts that they moved in perfect harmony when turned by a crank.

      One day as Newton sat reading in his study with his mechanism on a large table near him, his friend arrived. As a scientist he recognised at a glance what was before him. Stepping up to the contraption, he slowly turned the crank and with admiration watched the heavenly bodies all move at their relative speed in their proper orbits. Standing back a short way from it he exclaimed: "My, what an exquisite thing this is. Who made it?" Without looking up from his book, Newton answered "Nobody." Quickly turning to Newton, his friend said: "Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked, who made this?"

      Looking up, Newton solemnly assured him that nobody made it but that it had just happened to assume the form it was in. But the astonished man replied with some heat, "You must think that I am a fool. Of course somebody made it and he is a genius and I'd like to know who he is." Laying aside his book, Newton arose and placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, said: "This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and maker. Yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design has come into being is without either a designer or maker: now tell me by what sort of reasoning do you reach such an incongruous conclusion?" His friend was at once convinced and became a firm believer in the existence of God (adapted from Light Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2001).

People Suppress the Truth: If there is so much evidence of design in the world, why do so many people deny there is a God, or live as if God didn't exist? If creation bears such strong witness to God's eternal power and divine nature, why don't more people worship and serve the living God? That is the very question Paul raises in his text. And his answer is a simple one. People deny or ignore God, he writes, not because there isn't enough evidence of his existence. Rather, people deny or ignore God because of a deliberate choice they make to suppress the truth. Listen again to Paul's words: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, for God has shown it to them....So they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19, 20b, NRSV). Paul's argument is that everyone in the world has the knowledge of God available to them. For we all live in God's creation. But many people stifle this knowledge; when their minds and hearts begin to see a glimmer of God in the world he made, they deliberately push it away from themselves. Why would anyone want to do that? Because they want to avoid the implications of God's existence. For many people, it is simply too uncomfortable to go through life with a conscious awareness that the only reason they are alive is because their Creator made them and sustains them. It is too humbling. If God exists, that means I am not number one. It means I can't do whatever I feel like doing. It means I have to humble myself and pay attention to what this God is like, to what he says, to what he asks of me. It means I can live in a self-centred universe rather than a God-centred universe.

      One of the main ways people in the west suppress the truth of God in creation is through belief in the "Big Bang" the Theory of Evolution. If everything came into being through a chance explosion, and if life as we know it arose through random luck and completely natural processes, then there is no God to reckon with. I firmly believe this is the main reason so many believe in a "godless evolution." Please notice how I choose those words carefully–"godless evolution." There are some Christians who believe in evolution, but who believe that God was behind it–that is another matter altogether. I don't lean in that direction myself, although I used to have one foot in that camp, but I have little problem with those who do. For there is no attempt to suppress God's reality in that belief. But many if not most people who believe in evolution leave God out of the picture. Most of these people couldn't tell you anything about the evidence for or against evolution. They couldn't even begin to enter into a reasonable debate on the subject. But yet they say they believe in it. Why? Because it is convenient, because they find it so much easier to live in a world without God than they do in a world with God. In their minds they may sincerely believe there is no God, but they only came to that conclusion by suppressing again and again all the evidence to the contrary.

Application and Conclusion: Paul's message to them and to everyone else who suppress God's truth by any means is a strong warning: unless they turn toward the living God, they will be judged. Why? For they are without excuse, for they chose to live as if their Creator didn't exist. Even though God made us in love, and even though God plainly reveals himself in creation, people still choose to ignore him, and stifle the truth. People freely choose not to honour God, people choose not to give thanks to God, people choose not to worship God or serve him as their Creator. They choose to walk through this world with their eyes closed. And like any people who don't look where they are going, they fall. In essence they ultimately choose for themselves to spend not only this life, but eternity apart from God. This, of course, isn't what God wants. That is why he reveals himself in creation. Above all, that is why he sent Jesus his Son to the world, as Paul goes on to teach, to more fully reveal himself, to show us how much he loves us by dying for us, and subsequently offering forgiveness and healing and hope to all those who formerly rebelled against him. Anyone who places faith in Jesus will be set free from a self-centred life, and will want to respond to our loving Creator in a way that honours him. What does our Creator ask of us? To give thanks, to acknowledge all that he has made, to appreciate all that he has done for us, to worship and serve him.

      In conclusion, let us allow our hearts to sing for joy that this is our Father's world. Far from being a truth to suppress, seeing God's handiwork in creation should be a tremendous reassurance for us. For our Creator forgets and overlooks nothing. He cares for all he has created. That is a wonderful reassurance for us as children of our heavenly Father. Look around you. What do you see? Everything that you observe has been made by God. The God who made everything that we can see, and more besides, also cares for us. We matter to him. That is what creation teaches us. And as creation whispers to us of the grandeur and splendour of God, as it tells us of his beauty and creativity, as it speaks of his goodness and faithfulness, let us open our ears to hear. Let us always keep our eyes open to the wonders of our visible world, for in so doing we will also be able to see the glory of our invisible God.

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