Revelation of God
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unmistakable voice, proclaims the glory of God. In the things of
nature, marred as they are by the blight of sin, much that is beautiful
remains. One omnipotent in power, great in goodness, in mercy, and
love, has created the earth, and even in its blighted state it inculcates
truths in regard to the skillful Master Artist. In this book of nature
opened to us—in the beautiful, scented flowers, with their varied and
delicate coloring—God gives to us an unmistakable expression of His
love. 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mercy is not wholly withdrawn from the earth.
Nature is filled with spiritual lessons for mankind. The flowers die
only to spring forth into new life; and in this we are taught the lesson
of the resurrection. All who love God will bloom again in the Eden
above. But nature cannot teach the lesson of the great and marvelous
love of God. Therefore, after the Fall, nature was not the only teacher
of man. In order that the world might not remain in darkness, in eternal
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spiritual night, the God of nature met us in Jesus Christ. The Son of
God came to the world as the revelation of the Father. He was that
“true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”
(
John 1:9
). We are to behold “the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (
2 Corinthians 4:6
).
In the person of His only-begotten Son, the God of heaven has con-
descended to stoop to our human nature. To the question of Thomas,
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my
Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that
I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto
you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth
the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or
else believe me for the very works’ sake” (
John 14:6-11
).