Discipled by Creation

Several years ago, I read an article that was written to help folks struggling with pornography. One piece of practical counsel it offered was simply “walk outside.” In other words, one simple way to flee the false offer of experiencing beauty is by learning to enjoy the true beauty of God’s creation. In Matthew 28:18-27 we find three references to God’s creation that may be helpful for us as we learn to follow Jesus more and more wholeheartedly.

First, Jesus references foxes that have holes and birds that have nests. Though his primary point is to contrast this kind of safety/security with the risks that are involved in following him, it is a reminder that Jesus knows our needs and how best to meet them (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). Second, Jesus references the burial of the dead. This too is a good reminder that, barring the return of Christ, all of us one day will die (cf. Genesis 3:19), and so we must strive to be good stewards of the days the Lord has given us (cf. Psalm 90:12). Finally, Jesus’ authority over creation is powerfully demonstrated in his calming of the storm at sea. This reminds us that there is nothing in the created order that happens outside of the sovereignty of God, and there is no circumstance or situation that comes into our lives that he cannot use for our good (cf. Romans 8:28).

So, how can you get into creation this week? How can you cultivate this as a regular practice? Perhaps time in creation is as important of a spiritual discipline as Bible reading or prayer or corporate worship, for the Lord is ever-present in sustaining his creation and can teach us important lessons as we immerse ourselves in it.