| I think most Christians cringe when they overhear | | | | the Lord, their creator. In Nahum 1:3 we are told: |
| someone giving credit belonging to God to "Mother | | | | "…and the clouds are the dust of his |
| Nature." This mythical personality is often lauded for a | | | | feet…" |
| beautiful snowfall, a field full of wild flowers or a | | | | Some time ago while teaching an adult Sunday school |
| romantic moon-lit night. Having been set free by the | | | | class, I told the class that I was going to ask a question |
| Spirit of the Living God believers know that nature is | | | | and the first one to answer it correctly would receive |
| the handiwork of God and while the systems of the | | | | a prize. I told them that I was going to do this because I |
| world may run on automatic, it is God who created | | | | wanted to prove to them that the secular teachings of |
| them and who ensures that they run at all. | | | | evolution were influencing even the minds of born |
| The world is indeed a beautiful place and God alone | | | | again believers. |
| deserves the credit for it. Some would argue, that we | | | | I added a reward to the question to ensure they did |
| were told by the Lord to love not the world or the | | | | not have time to consider their answer. I wanted them |
| things that are in it. Doubtless, he was speaking of the | | | | to answer spontaneously so that I could make my |
| secularity of the world system and not the beauty that | | | | case. |
| he created. Each raindrop, each star, each gust of | | | | The question was "Who can tell me where diamonds |
| wind is a testament to his greatness and are for our | | | | come from?" As anticipated, hands flew up all over |
| enjoyment and his praise. | | | | the room, but one bold woman who obviously wanted |
| Consider for instance, the significance of clouds? | | | | the prize more than anyone else, just blurted out her |
| Besides being beautiful and captivating, they play a | | | | answer; "they are pieces of coal that have been under |
| huge role in our daily lives. If there were no clouds, this | | | | pressure for millions of years." |
| world would be quite a different place. The singer Joni | | | | It was undoubtedly the same answer that most, if not |
| Mitchell captured much of the essence of clouds in her | | | | all of the others were going to give, but upon hearing it |
| hit song on the topic, but even she fails to quantify their | | | | said out loud, we experienced a type of group |
| real significance. | | | | epiphany. Every student sort of groaned and said "oh |
| Clouds are more than the fodder of songs and | | | | no, I see what you mean" or words to that effect. One |
| paintings. They are the evidence of God's environment | | | | by one they realized that they had unconsciously |
| at work. When clouds are present, we know that the | | | | accepted evolutionary theory as fact. (By the way, no |
| checks and balances of God's nature are in play. Cold | | | | prize was awarded, since no one offered the right |
| and warm air masses push against each other, | | | | answer). |
| creating weather systems that water and cleanse the | | | | Christians are enlightened by the Holy Spirit through an |
| earth. | | | | understanding and discernment that unregenerate |
| Whether viewed from above from an airplane window | | | | people do not enjoy. Still, we have the flesh factor and |
| or from below while laying on a grassy hill at one's | | | | we are subject to the influences of the wicked one, |
| leisure, clouds are magnificent to behold. They | | | | often in such subtle ways that we do not even |
| sometimes hang low to the ground and at other times | | | | recognize it until faced with an opportunity like we had |
| climb to the heights of heaven. They take familiar | | | | in our class. |
| shapes and forms and we marvel at their beauty. | | | | The entire first chapter of Nahum speaks to the |
| They can unleash unbelievable power. Sometimes this | | | | wonder and might of God and gives him credit for |
| power is destructive, even lethal, but more often it is | | | | everything good in this world. It rightfully names him and |
| helpful and life-giving. Lakes, streams and rivers are | | | | him alone as creator and makes the clouds that tower |
| filled by their moisture and God's creation and | | | | over us nothing more than the dust beneath his feet. |
| creatures are replenished. | | | | Believers everywhere need to guard themselves |
| Indeed, whether bringing havoc to coastal cities or | | | | against the secular philosophy of this world and pay |
| quenching the parched desert, clouds are significant to | | | | due homage to the one who created all that we see. |
| our world. They are critically important to life and the | | | | Attempts to usurp the rightful praise due to God via |
| myriad ecological systems that comprise life on this | | | | Mother Nature, Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and a |
| earth. | | | | host of other imaginary personalities should be |
| Still, as intimidating as a 60,000 foot thunderhead can | | | | rejected and have no place among us. All praise |
| be and as much power as a storm system can | | | | belongs to God and God alone. |
| generate, their magnificence pales to the majesty of | | | | |