Wasn’t yesterday amazing?
For those of you who did not gather with us, although we have permission to meet in the gym, it was such a beautiful morning we chose to meet outside again. What better environment to worship our God than under the canopy of cloudless, blue sky with the warmth of the sun, tempered by the slightest of autumn freshness in the breeze. The weather was perfect. The beauty of God’s creation is a far superior backdrop for corporate worship; superior to flickering TV screens, popping PA systems, and squeaking chairs on a gym floor. It’s almost as if the psalmist was inspired when he wrote:
The heavens declare the glory of God,
They sky displays His handiwork (Psa. 19)
I suspect the psalmist was looking at the night sky, emblazoned with innumerable stars, when he penned those words. But yesterday’s crystal-clear, cobalt-blue day sky is a close second. Being in nature is good for the soul. It’s why we enjoy campfires, beaches, hikes, canoeing, and all other types of outdoor activities - especially the ones that are just “us and nature.”
God’s creative genius has allowed us to explore, learn, and leverage the resources of His creation into scientific and technological advances previous generations could never have imagined. How is it possible to talk to and see - in real time - someone who lives on the other side of the planet? How is it we can take pictures of the earth from the sky and the entire planet appears to be nothing but a blue marble? How is it I can travel from my home to anywhere in the world in about twenty-four hours? This unprecedented accumulation of knowledge, learning and technology almost gives us God-like abilities. Almost.
Ironically, while we have greater ability to access and leverage God’s creative genius more than ever before, it seems harder and harder to be aware of His presence. What we have exploited out of His creation has not increased our sensitivity to Him but has created more noise making it harder to know He is there. The more resource we find in the natural world the more willing we are to deny the engagement of the Creator in His world. Strange, but not surprising.
I love science and technology. I believe God is honoured when we investigate the wonders of His created order and put those discoveries to beneficial use. It is challenging, though, because those very discoveries which point to the intelligent design of our world are generally misinterpreted. Rather than causing us to wonder at the God of all creation we are amazed by our ability to learn and discover. But there is an alternative.
Time with God in the majesty of His creation is a great “reset moment” for all of us. To immerse ourselves in the natural world will be when we will hear and see and feel the beauty of His handiwork. And when we do so with fellow worshipers of God it is even more amazing. When Asaph lost perspective, he went to where God’s people were gathering (in an admittedly busy but low-tech environment) and his heart and mind were refreshed by the thanksgiving of God’s people:
As for me, my feet had almost slipped . . .
. . . Until I entered the sanctuary of God (Psa. 73).
Yesterday our “sanctuary” was the outdoors. And the “offerings” were the stories we share of God’s faithfulness in regular ways in the lives of regular people. We heard of collaboration in musical projects, of God’s faithfulness during long-term illness and celebration of lives well-lived, of continued employment, of progress in learning, of safety while living in community, of provision for a variety of needs. These are the normal and regular issues of life. And in each of them we see the care and faithfulness of our Creator God.
From Psalm 100 and Judges 3 we remembered that God is to be worshiped not only because of the spectacular (like the overwhelming beauty of His creation) but because of His “hidden-ness” in the everyday struggles of life. God uses the most unexpected people to accomplish His unstoppable purposes. And while the noise of life shouts out a message that God is absent, we know we can pause and we can be assured of His engagement. It takes time and effort it is possible to be still and know He is God (Psa. 46).
Yesterday was amazing. It was simple, beautiful, and encouraging. Very little - if any - of that had to do with the pastor. It was because the “sheep of His pasture” (Psa. 100) came together in a naturally beautiful environment, eager to worship God by sharing, supporting, praying, and learning together.
And that is the core of worship.
