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