Taught by Nature

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? Job 12:7-9.
Although the earth was blighted with the curse, nature was still to be man’s lesson book. It could not now represent goodness only; for evil was everywhere present, marring earth and sea and air with its defiling touch….
In drooping flower and falling leaf Adam and his companion witnessed the first signs of decay. Vividly was brought to their minds the stern fact that every living thing must die. Even the air, upon which their life depended, bore the seeds of death.
Continually they were reminded also of their lost dominion. Among the lower creatures Adam had stood as king, and so long as he remained loyal to God, all nature acknowledged his rule; but when he transgressed, this dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion, to which he himself had given entrance, extended throughout the animal creation….
But man was not abandoned to the results of the evil he had chosen. In the sentence pronounced upon Satan was given an intimation of redemption…. This sentence, spoken in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. Before they heard of the thorn and the thistle, of the toil and sorrow that must be their portion, or of the dust to which they must return, they listened to words that could not fail of giving them hope. All that had been lost by yielding to Satan could be regained through Christ.
After the transgression of Adam, God might have destroyed every opening bud and blooming flower, or He might have taken away their fragrance, so grateful to the senses. In the earth seared and marred by the curse, in the briers, the thistles, the thorns, the tares, we may read the law of condemnation; but in the delicate color and perfume of the flowers, we may learn that God still loves us, that His mercy is not wholly withdrawn from the earth.
Conflict and Courage p. 19
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Prayer Requests
—–I slipped on the ice and fell down the stairs…I am pretty sure I will have some black and blue decorations on my hip and forearm. But I think my strained back and shoulder hurt worse. So thankful I didn’t break anything! Prayers would be appreciated though. Esther
——Please keep my son Michael seen on the right in your prayers. He had surgery yesterday for a broken knee cap as a result of a fall. Please pray that his kneecap will heal up and that God will restore him in every way. T
—– Please pray for Susan. She is very ill. Thank you, Fran
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Dear Friends,
Several times a year when I was a child, my mother and I would take the train to Grand Rapids to shop. On one such occasion, she happened to notice a large crowd going into a certain store that had a big grand opening sign. We joined the milling crowd and soon found ourselves inside, surrounded by a vast “sea” of shoppers. I was about six at the time and was given careful instructions to keep holding her hand. Somehow, as my mother was looking at some merchandise, we got separated. Soon, I found myself being carried along by the crowd and unable to find my mother. I began to be fearful, but I didn’t know what to do or where to go.
Finally, a clerk noticed my sad face and asked me if I was lost. Then she took me upstairs to the toy department and let me hold a great big doll. The doll was beautiful, but it held no interest for me. I just wanted my mommy. I remember the concerned faces of the clerk and some man with glasses hovering over me. He could have been the manager, but I was not interested in him. I just wanted to see my mother’s face.
When my mother finally discovered that I was not at her side, she nearly panicked. While searching for me in that milling crowd, she came upon a clerk who explained that the store’s policy was to take any lost child to the toy department. Rushing to the elevator, she made her way to the fifth floor. A clerk, seeing her panic-stricken look, walked over and asked if she could help. My mother asked if any lost child had been found. Smiling, the woman took her to where I was. As soon as I saw my mother, I set that beautiful doll down and rushed into her arms. Then I burst into tears.
Just as I became lost when I took my hand out of my mother’s hand, so we can become lost only if we let go of our Heavenly Father’s Hand. Yet, praise God! We do not need to stay that way ?for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.? Luke 19:10 Indeed, there are many who have become separated from their Loving Redeemer. Perhaps they have been allured by worldly pleasures, or by choosing a friend who has led them down the wrong path. Perhaps it is simple carelessness or neglect of Bible study and prayer. Whatever the cause, they soon find that they can no longer see their Saviour’s face.
Because of His great love, our Dear Jesus does not leave us alone. No, He works out circumstances that we may return to Him if we will. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:4-10
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zeph 3:17 Wonderful thought! The Great King of the Universe rejoices over us with singing! “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Rom 11:33 Think of it! Not only does the Great Creator of the Universe rejoice when we repent, but all of the angels of Heaven and all of the beings on the unfallen worlds are interested in our salvation. May we run to His Outstretched Arms of Love is my prayer.
Rose