And Nature Sings! - All of Creation as Witness

 

By Will Witherington

Posted: Friday, December 23rd, 2011

 

 

For years I have wanted to write down some of the devotional thoughts I have during the Christmas season.  My thoughts usually revolve around two ideas: First that the Incarnation was an "invasion" - heaven was invading earth; Second, there were witnesses that had various points of view regarding the Incarnation.  These short devotionals each day will look at the witnesses to this invasion – God, the angels, Mary/Joseph, the shepherds, the animals/stars, the wise men, me.

 

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The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 19:1 ESV

 

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, all things were created through him and for him. ... and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:16-17 ESV

 

Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing...

Joy to the World – Christmas Hymn

 

From the star above Bethlehem to the sheep being watched out “in the fields by night”, all of creation together welcomed their Creator and King. From the roads that were built to make transportation to Bethlehem possible to the inn that was constructed and filled to capacity, all the creative energy on the earth was involved in the unfolding drama of the birth of the Savior. From the rocks that the shepherds were sitting on in the field to the rock that was rolled away at His resurrection, the earth witnessed the entire redemptive story!

 

There were storms that obeyed his command. There were trees that listened to his voice. There were cells of human bodies that transformed miraculously under his healing hand. Molecular structures in the human eye were changed. Lifeless hearts were revived. This King said that if human voices did not sing His praises the “very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40) in honor of His rule.

 

The Incarnation is a dramatic reminder that God is creating a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1) The Son of God taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Paul said, “the creation itself is longing for the sons of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19)

 

As we move through this life, we may be confident of this very thing: there is not one place on the planet that will not sing the eternal praises of the Son of God!