Dear Friend of Creation,
Five hundred years ago an ambitious young man had a long convalescence recovering from a serious war injury shattering his legs. The restless energetic soldier was forced into near immobility for six months. During this time, he was inspired by reading about the life of Christ. He also spent long hours just gazing at the sky, and at the stars at night.
Without realizing it, he was being drawn by his Creator into a form of contemplative prayer. God began to speak to his heart giving him great consolation and gently transforming his desires and purposes. Instead of his admission to “being a man driven by the vanities of the world” he found he was wanting to be like the Lord. He found he was wanting to serve his Maker and those made in His image.
Ignatius of Loyola continued his habit of contemplating the Lord through His marvelous handiwork, and would be observed as an old man sitting on his balcony or rooftop in Rome, gazing up at the heavens at night with tears running down his cheeks. This was long before electricity and the light pollution that is so prevalent today. Ignatius found a lifelong secret for experiencing the presence and glory of God, whom he would famously call “The Divine Majesty”.
Indeed, the creation speaks about its Maker – about His Majesty. “O Lord our Lord how majestic (excellent) is Thy name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1). “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen… even His eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20). We see this creation sentiment all through the Bible – including as an essential part of David’s worship of God in the Psalms. And so we can say thank You for sunshine. Thank You for the rain. Thank You for the trees, the leaves, the flowers, and the bees. Thank You for the big and beautiful skies, because “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).
Through the creation, God provides sustenance for us, “our daily bread” – along with profound enjoyment! On Thanksgiving, we can say thank You for fall colors. Then, thank You for winter wonderlands. Thank You for the emerging life and beauty of springtime. And I don’t think it is coincidence that Jesus rose from the dead in the Springtime – when birds are singing and life is bursting forth in accordance with the times and seasons and purposes of its Maker! Thank You for salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord!
The miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than analogous to the miracle of creation. For only God could have supplied the miraculous life-giving energy and intelligence to resurrect the crucified Jesus. And only He could have supplied the miraculous life-giving energy and intelligence of creation in the first place! This is the power of the Christian message. God, Creator of life and all things, has the power over death.
And here is why creation-evangelism is so important and so powerful. God as Savior must truly be God our Creator – having the power to create and re-create life! This is why we are working hard to expand our international and multilingual outreach – as we discussed in our recent letter about launching our new African outreach.
One day, if we have received the grace of God in Jesus Christ, we will be lifted up out of the present restricted dimensions of a world driven by its vanities, frailties, and immoralities – as if being lifted out of a murky pond where we are stuck in bodies equipped with only gills. And where we catch only glimpses of the ultimate beauty of God above the surface. One day we will be lifted out of this limited environment, given new bodies able to enjoy the full sunshine, the fresh air, the flowering grassy meadows, and the breeze among the trees, the birds, and the butterflies – into a whole new dimension of the shining life-giving warmth and light of God. It will be another great burst of springtime! – which will no longer limit us to a dimension darkened by sin, death, and decay (Romans 8:18-23).
I frequently realize that trying to put our experience of God into words is quite inadequate. Because we are dealing with God who is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). He is infinite! And down through the ages, as earnest seekers and heroes of the Christian faith like Ignatius of Loyola and those in the Bible have experienced, He is a Holy Mystery. He is awesome, overwhelming, perfect justice and goodness, and at the same time embracing us in His perfect love and intimacy. The more we truly know and experience God, the more we realize that there is so much more to know and experience, and which we want to know and experience. He is, and will forever be, the truly healthy and deeply satisfying addiction that will carry us through this life and into the next!
C.S. Lewis writes about how our experience with the creation awakens within us a sense that there is more – something other, something beyond the natural world. He says in Mere Christianity, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. And Lewis observes in his book Miracles that we can only savor this world for the wonder that it really is when we appreciate it as the creation of a supernatural God. “Only Super-naturalists really see Nature. … To treat Nature itself as God, or as Everything, is to lose the whole pith and pleasure of her. Come out, look back and then you will see … this astonishing cataract of bears, babies, and bananas; this immoderate deluge of atoms, orchids, oranges, cancers, canaries, fleas, gases, tornadoes, and toads. How could you have ever thought this was ultimate reality? … The “vanity” (futility) to which Nature is subjected is her disease not her essence.”
Like all of us, nature, though wondrous and awesome, is in need of redemption. The “essence” of nature points us to her Awesome Maker. And the “disease” within her – the futility, corruption, and harsh cruelty that exists in nature – instructs us to desire and anxiously long for our full redemption. Here was the intense feeling for Ignatius of Loyola – a feeling we all can share as we stare at the heavens with wonder and awe, allowing its Creator to inform us while longing for Christ’s triumphant return with the clouds (Revelation 1:7). This Thanksgiving not only are we thankful for creation truth and ministry, we are thankful and indeed rejoice in all the good that is made possible with and through you – our partners in this ministry!
In fact, we are launching with this letter a new partner community called “Creation Advocates.” By committing to a recurring monthly contribution of any amount, you will receive monthly Creation Meditations – stream-able videos for enhanced quiet time and prayer, featuring texts of Scripture and spectacular footage of the creation in relation to the biblical text (see below or CLICK HERE to learn more). Please help us continue to spread the creation-evangelism message with your prayers and generous offerings of thanksgiving during this especially thankful time of year!
Yours in Christ,
Mark Cadwallader, Board Chairman
P.S. Now is the perfect time to order our 2025 God’s Creation Calendar! They’re going fast, so I’d advise you to get yours soon. These calendars are an incredible way to worship our Creator through the wonder of his handiwork. Each month features beautiful photography paired with powerful Scripture, inspiring you to give glory to God all throughout the coming new year. Purchase one for yourself or multiple for those on your Christmas list!
With the celebration of Christ’s birth just around the corner, I also want to point out our Behold His Glory Christmas cards. Send the true meaning of Christmas to the ones you love! Each card includes both a greeting and a KJV scripture verse. Order yours today.
To get both or either of these creation-themed resources, click here or call us toll-free at 1-800-422-4253 during regular office hours (Mon – Th 8:30am-4:30pm CT).
Creation Meditation sample:
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