The Resurrection And Creation- Christ’s Resurrection Reflected In Nature
Where can we find the resurrection reflected in creation? In today’s post, Shane states “If all creation sings the glory of God, then some of it sings a solo dedicated solely to the risen Christ.”
The Message Of The Earth
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1,2
Do you hear what the universe is saying? Have you listened to the message of the earth? All creation sings the song of creation, each one having its part. Some of the parts even sing the song of resurrection. The morning, rising from the dead of night, daily reminds us of the eternal truth that the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings, bringing victory over the powers of darkness. Likewise, the annual return of Spring, year after year, celebrates life’s triumph over the long cold death of winter.
The Resurrection Was Planned Before The Creation Of Earth
It is no secret that some skeptics believe the resurrection of Christ to be a myth. They say the story of Christ rising from the dead is simply a reflection on nature. Their line of reasoning is something like this: since the return of Spring brings back life from death, the Christians applied this truth to the person of Christ, and voila, the resurrection of Christ was forged.
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But skeptics have placed the cart before the horse. Spring didn’t come first. The resurrection did. Man didn’t look at Spring and conceive the Resurrection of Christ; rather, God looked at the Resurrection of Christ and conceived the concept of Spring. The Word of God proclaims that the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ was accomplished before the foundation of the world. Before God ever created, God laid the first brick knowing that “the Lamb [was] slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev.13:8). Therefore the resurrection doesn’t reflect Spring. It’s the other way around: the season of Spring reflects and illustrates the truth of the resurrection of Christ.
The Resurrection In Nature
And it’s not only Spring that provides us with illustrations. Many of God’s creations help illustrate the truths of the resurrection. In the animal world, we see many of the birds return from their migration South to sing their songs once again, as if back from the dead. The hibernating bear, arising from its tomb of deep slumber, emerges to resume its life again. And from somewhere buried deep in the earth, the little green frog comes back to the pond crawling out of its frozen crypt.
In the world of flora and fauna, unseen to the naked eye, the germinated seed throws off the tightly wrapped grave clothes of its shell and begins pushing its way through the soil, bringing its future sheaves with it. And who hasn’t observed the bright green shoots of tulips rising from their flowerbed graves reaching up to touch the sky?
Lastly, in the insect kingdom we see the lowly caterpillar willingly encase itself in its self-made tomb, from which it emerges with a new body capable of movements and possibilities impossible in its first state of being. And then there’s the droning bee. Somewhere under a rock or inside a tree, far away from the living world above, the pollinating bee awakens from its hypnotic sleep of death to make honey for the world once again. Over and over again, the truth of the resurrection is illustrated by the lives of the creatures God has made.
God’s Creation Was Made To Glorify Him
What is often called “Mother Nature” is none other than our Father’s world, and the purpose of it is to glorify Him. Not only does nature glorify Him but it teaches us about His person and work. To every believer, the universe is God’s book of illustrations pointing us to Christ. Maltbie Davenport Babcock had it right when he wrote the hymn “This is My Father’s World,” and said it best when he said, “…the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.”
Just think of it: since God knows the end from the beginning, He is certainly able to make the middle work for Him. All sorts of illustrations await discovery for the patient eye. After the Flood, God proclaimed that from now on, “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Gen.8:22). Together, these seasons serve as prophecies and heralds of the resurrection. Year after year they announced His coming. Now that He has risen, year after year they illustrate that He has come. And no wonder, for “known to God from eternity are all His works,”says Acts 15:18.
My Father’s World
If all creation sings the glory of God, then some of it sings a solo dedicated solely to the risen Christ. After the barren life of sin has run its course, it is the newness of life that Christ gives to us, bringing forth its fruit unto God (Rom.7:4). Like a kernel of wheat, the dead body of Jesus was harvested from the cross and sown into the ground, only to rise again bringing all of us with Him, generating much fruit and glory to God in the process.
This is My Father’s World
Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson has been commended from Bethel-Park Bible Chapel since 1999. He resides in Brantford, Ontario with his wife Shelly and his five children.
He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. His passions are teaching children, inspiring young people, writing, music and playing soccer.
Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his program entitled “Christ Up Close.”
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Image Credits
Bee- Pexels
Night- fill
Flowers- PublicDomainPictures
Earth- Qimono
Flight- MakaMuki0
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