“For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”     – Colossians 1:16   

          When I was growing up, I was a pretty good student, but if you had asked me what my least favorite subjects were, I would have said art and science.  I have never been one to have a good mind for how things work or for making something with my hands.  Consequently, I have always admired people who do these things well—who can draw or paint or sculpt something beautiful or who can design or build something useful or fix it when it breaks. 

            With the trips that I went on this past month, it struck me what an artist and scientist the Lord is!  Early in the month we drove out to Yellowstone via I-94 on the way there and I-80 on the way back.  Then, toward the end of the month, I flew with our youth to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering.  I saw farmland and bad lands, lakes and rivers and waterfalls, sand hills and buttes, Grand Teton mountains and massive canyons, calderas, glaciers, and artic tundra.  I saw hot springs and geysers, mud pots and fumaroles,  I saw swamps and bayous, marshes and wetlands. In these various places I saw all manner of wildlife—prairie dogs and buffalo, prong horns, elk, and moose, bears and wolves, wild horses and otters, alligators and wild pigs, little lizards and giant spiders and (unfortunately) fire ants on my ankles. And, as far as birds go, I can’t even begin to count all the different species of birds that we saw! Thinking back on the month, I kept thinking about the words above, “all things were created through him and for him.”  What an artist/scientist our Lord is!    

            Then, there are all the people that I saw over this past month, each one made in the image of God, and yet unique and different—different sizes and shapes, different shades of skin color and hair, different voices and languages.  There were people from all over the world at the national parks.  There were people from all over the country and world at the National Youth Gathering.  Each one was knit together in his/her mother’s womb by our Lord who designed them and knows them. 

            But, not only were all things created by him, they were also created for him.  He created all things for Himself—to have relationship with what He made and to enjoy it and love and serve it.  This means, that when it got broken, He had a vested interest in fixing it.  If there is a thought that is even more profound than thinking about how God could design and create all that He made, it is what He has done to put it back right—what He suffered and endured to restore and make His creation new and good again!

            May God bless you with appreciation for Him and all that He has made and with love for your Creator and Redeemer and for all that He has made and redeemed!