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The Theater of the Divine Glory

God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule.

The New City Catechism (answer to question 5)

As a family we have begun to work through The New City Catechism Devotional published by Crossway. I was particularly encouraged (as usual) by looking through a gospel lens at God's natural revelation and how all of creation brings Him glory. In answer to catechism question 5 (What else did God create?), the devotional quoted John Calvin and R. Kent Hughes. Below are excerpts from the devotional that encouraged me, and I pray will encourage you as well.

God has given us, throughout the whole framework of this world, clear evidences of his eternal wisdom, goodness, and power; and though he is in himself invisible, he in a manner becomes visible to us in his works.

Correctly then is this world called the mirror of divinity; not that there is sufficient clearness for man to gain a full knowledge of God, by looking at the world, but that he has thus so far revealed himself, that the ignorance of the ungodly is without excuse. Now the faithful, to whom he has given eyes, see sparks of his glory, as it were, glittering in every created thing. The world was no doubt made, that it might be the theater of the divine glory.

John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews 11:3

Everything is made by Christ. The fires of Arcturus, the fires that light a firefly, all textures, all shapes, things in heaven, things on earth, things under the earth, things under the sea, everything is created and sustained by him. And that means that, as he’s the Creator of all things, everything is under his loving, benevolent care. We must also keep in mind that as human beings, the apex of creation, we were made in the image of God. But as regenerate people, we also have the image of Christ. Which means that we can rest in his goodness, in his great creation power, as he controls all of life, and we can flourish under him.

R. Kent Hughes, The New City Catechism Devotional, p34.

Two trillion galaxies in the universe, each with 100 billion stars, but even when all put together, the ensemble would not hold a candle to the glory of God through Christ, into which we are brought by His grace and love. This is a God whom we can trust with our lives, and our eternity!

Restfully Yours,

Pastor Aaron