Tell the Next Generation About God’s Works
by Walt Lynch
Over the next several months our newsletter will be written by one of our elder candidates as a way for him to develop his ministry to the church.
God has given us an amazing world to live in. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all we see. He wants us to honor him and thank Him for this world (Romans 1:21).
He wants us to “meditate” on what He has made and remind ourselves and other generations of what we have learned. Look at Psalm 145:1-10 (ESV):
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
I worked for 11 years as a sole proprietor. I remember one time that I had no work. As I did cold calls, looking for work, I saw a group of sparrows taking shelter in an old building. That reminded me of the verses Matt. 6:25-26, “Look at the birds. Remember your heavenly Father feeds them. He loves you more than the birds, so do not worry. He will feed you.” The Lord did provide work from a small company nearby. Whenever I see birds, I remember God’s provision.
Look at the wild flowers. Your heavenly Father made the beauty of the columbine. God loves you more than the flowers, so do not worry. He will clothe you (Matt. 6:27-34).
I love to walk through the Museum of Natural History. I always have to see the dinosaur exhibit. Just look at the heavy bones holding up the brontosaurus. Some bones are hollow to save weight. How could it control its long neck and tail? God’s creativity and wisdom enabled these large creatures to move and find food. When I read Job 40:15-24 describing a Behemoth, I think of the dinosaurs at the museum.
Behold, Behemoth,
which I made as I made you;
he eats grass like an ox.
Behold, his strength in his loins,
and his power in the muscles of his belly.
He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like bars of iron.
He is the first of the works of God; [emph. mine]
let him who made him bring near his sword!
For the mountains yield food for him
where all the wild beasts play.
Under the lotus plants he lies,
in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
the willows of the brook surround him.
Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
Can one take him by his eyes,
or pierce his nose with a snare?
This sounds like a large dinosaur. Job responded in chapter 42 verse 1 and 2, “I know that You can do everything. And that no purpose of yours can be withheld from You.”
God has left His fingerprints on the world. It is most appropriate for us to notice and give Him the praise.