Creator vs creation – April 19, 2024

               Romans 14:11, For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

               I have mentioned many times how the glory of nature gives me a sense of peace and tranquility.  I love sitting on our backyard swing; watching the birds fight over the feeder, hearing the red squirrel fussing in disapproval that I’m intruding his territory, and lifting my eyes to watch the clouds drift smoothly across the sky.  Once in a while a cute little chipmunk will bravely invade the birdfeeder to grab a couple of treats to take back to his hideout.  The cats sit beside me, anticipating an attempt to catch a bird.  Their attempts fail miserably…and I laugh.

               I have sat on the beach and watched sunrises and sunsets that make me feel as though there is nothing in this world except me and God, alone, to enjoy the company of each other; even if it’s only for a few moments. I know that only through Him do we enjoy the lay of the land.

               And I thank Him.  I thank the Creator for His creation.  But in no way do I “worship” the creation or see anything created that is above Him.  The Creator is the ONLY one that deserves worship and acknowledgement of the beauty made by His hands.  The creation does not get you to heaven; a place that all believers hope for in the future. 

               Recently a gentleman wrote an article that came out in a local paper with the headline “A Harvest of happiness without hope of Heaven”.  In his article he gives credit to the naturalist, John Muir, who talks of his travels throughout the world and the beauty he finds along the way.  He states that Muir was a man of faith. However, I have to wonder…where does his faith lie? 

This gentleman stated that Muir could saunter the wild world with a pure joyfulness in the gift; the present of the present moment.  Muir stated “Indeed, some of the days I have spent alone in the depths of the wilderness have shown me that immortal life beyond the grave is not essential to perfect happiness.”  Let that sink in.

               The gentleman, that wrote the article, replied to Muir’s statement, “He experienced a kind of terrestrial immortality.  Why wish for a happy home in the heavens when there is so much available here, such a bounty of beauty?  When life is a gift, why imagine something better – an ‘after-life’”?

               He quotes a couple verses that talks about us coming into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing, but a statement he made that made me almost cry for him is this: “Someone sent me an article on ‘heaven and the afterlife’.  I took a quick look and found nothing particularly new.  Since my days as an evangelical youth, through years of ministry and latter years as a teacher and writer, I’ve heard countless theories and opinions on what may or may not come after death.  I still find Muir’s sun-filled sensibility superior to any beliefs.  And I’ve never heard even one description of heaven that sounds like a place or a state I want to see in the ‘hereafter’.  We didn’t exist before we were born, so not existing after we’re dead isn’t any different.”  Let THAT sink in.

               I responded to this gentleman in assuring him that the resurrection of Christ reassures us that there is a life after our earthly death and that it involves one of two directions; Heaven or Hell. I also stated that if we have no hope for heaven when we die, we have no hope at all.  Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to “worship” creation. And to tell people that all we need is the great outdoors is misleading them.  I also referenced to him 2 Corinthians 2:9.

His only reply to me was, “Well, Nancy, you have your beliefs and I have mine. You have the freedom to express your opinions, and so do I.” 

People, please understand that anything “created”, no matter how beautiful and peaceful it may be, should NEVER be put above the Creator.  God gave us the beauty of the earth to enjoy while we are here but never believe that what is created on this earth is better than anything in heaven.  Strive for heaven where true beauty, peace and tranquility lies.  To live with Christ, and to see Him face-to-face, in a world free of destruction and sadness far outweighs any beauty we see on earth. 

Now, I think I’ll go sit on my swing, enjoy the beauty of our Creator, and thank Him for preparing my mansion in Heaven.  And I’ll pray.  And I’ll quietly worship.  And I’ll sleep well tonight.

Will you?

Nancy Stoppe

Stoppe123@comcast.net