Where Creation Falls Short

Ever since childhood my fascination with creation has both fueled my learning and drawn me closer to God. From the early days of scampering through the woods, swimming in creeks, fishing, catching salamanders and collecting leaves, to my school days of charting constellations and measuring the arc and phases of the moon, my thirst for science has opened my eyes to the Creator behind the beauty I beheld. Despite the display of Creator God’s multi-faceted beauty and nature, creation falls short in its portrayal of one important area of God’s person.

If we imagined viewing only the moon in the sky, never before glimpsing the sun, its beauty would thrill us. Becoming the most prominent light in the sky, people would marvel at its phases and ability to provide light on the darkest nights.

But if then the sun appeared in all its brilliance, fascination with the moon would lessen. The sun by far, excels the moon in every aspect. If we also learned the moon but reflects the brilliance of the sun, we would venerate the moon simply for its ability to reflect the glory of the sun.

While the moon resembles the sun, and reflects the sun’s light, it is not the sun. Having its own charm and aesthetic appeal, it has no light, no glory of its own. It exists solely to reflect the glory of the sun.

In the same way, all the created loveliness of our gardens, the magnificence of the stars, even the grandeur of majestic mountains is all moonlight. Creation falls short, providing only a similitude and radiance of the Creator God, but not Creator God.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Romans 1:20-NIV

The Apostle Paul proclaims creation’s testimony as a means of man’s accountability towards God. Standing before God, no one will claim God never revealed Himself to them. Creation testifies every day of God, whether we listen or not.

One look at a sunrise or sunset, the night sky, a beehive, the diversity of the animal kingdom, or a child in the womb, and we see a wise Creator evidenced. The human body alone provides enough evidence of divine design we need look no further.

While God uses creation to tell us much about His love, wisdom and even aspects of His personality, creation falls short in revealing the redemption story. Creation reflects a Creator God, but not how to solve our sin problem.

Creation’s magnificence portrays a Divine Source but fails to reveal God as Savior. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ reveals this truth.

Through creation’s reflective glory, we step into wonder and begin a journey of discovery. Our hearts ponder, “Who has done this?”

“If God has done this, how wonderful is He?”

“Can this God who created even me, care for me?”

Creation’s exquisite beauty draws us to the Source of all beauty, to the Source of all we need. Inviting us into a treasure hunt, God leaves clues, pictures of Himself designed to increase our desire for more, more than what we can see.

Our souls were designed to crave beauty, and in that craving, creation whispers there is Someone who longs for us as much as we long for Him. But as the moon reflects the glory of the sun, creation falls short, merely reflecting the glory and story of Christ.

Creation’s role in awakening our souls to the existence of God provides hope for our fallen natures. Drawn to Him, we become open to the full revelation of the gospel story and a Savior God we sensed but could not see.

Placing eternity in our hearts, God uses creation as deep calls to deep in every human soul moving them closer to oneness with Him.

But the sheer miracle of creation’s role still falls short in full revelation of the gospel. The Apostle Paul further unearths the fullness of God’s redemption plan in Romans 10:9-14 NIV

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Those of us who have found the Beauty of the Savior Jesus Christ, have the incredible privilege of bearing that beauty to others. Where creation falls short in revealing the complete redemption story, we are sent to help others trace the moonbeam to the Sonlight.

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