LESSONS FROM NATURE by Arthur Fox

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 29, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 26.

LESSONS FROM NATURE.

By Arthur Fox

BY ARTHUR FOX.

THERE is an exquisite little bit of tenderness in the story of the creation which some have probably never noticed. Of all the vast heaven and earth God had spoken and it was done. He said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” At His word there came the grass, and the trees, and the herb yielding seed. At His word there came the creatures that flew in the heavens, and filled the sea, and roamed the land.

But it is written that the Lord God planted a garden. He Himself decked it with flowers; His love bent over them and shaped them in their beauty, and breathed their fragrance. And the garden was the first sanctuary. There amidst the flowers that spake the “Fear not” of God to the heart of man, and that proclaimed His tender care, He walked and talked with His child. And there in the garden was such pure worship as no stately cathedral has ever known.

When Jesus came to redeem fallen man, and to teach him of the Father, He gathered His disciples about Him, not in the temple. He goes there, indeed, but it is to reprove; to overthrow the tables of the money-changers, to drive forth the sheep and the oxen with their defilement, and to scatter the seats of those that sold doves. When He would open His mouth and teach them, He went up into the mountain and sat down amidst the abundance of flowers. We must not picture the scene like one of our own mountain slopes, beautiful as they may be, with purple heather and golden furze, and daisies bright and golden buttercups. Palestine is the land of flowers. Its most striking feature is the abundance of flowers, their variety and brilliance. The land flowing with milk and honey meant a land of rich pastures and many flowers.

We may think of the mountain slopes where Jesus teaches as “a garden of Eden run wild,” rainbow-hued with flowers. And here, as in the garden that the Lord God planted of old, the gracious Saviour sat to tell His disciples of the heavenly Father.

“Fathers and mothers, let your children learn from the flowers. Take them with you into the garden and field, and under the leafy trees, and teach them to read in God’s works the message of God’s love. Let the thought of Him be linked with bird and flower and tree. Lead the children to see in every pleasant thing an expression of God’s love for them. Teach them that He would have their lives beautiful with the graces of the flowers. Teach them as they gather the sweet blossoms, that He who made the flowers is more beautiful than they.”

Of what use are the flowers? They are not necessary to food or clothing. Why, then, does God permit them to grow? Ah, they show how God loves the beautiful, and in return for all the beautiful things which He has given let us give Him beauty in our religious services, and in our lives; imitating Him who is altogether lovely.

Flowers teach the shortness of human life. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down.” Job 14:1, 2. “As a flower of the field, so He flourisheth.” Ps. 103:15. Flowers show God’s love of little things, for He is just as careful of the small as of the great. He who made the sun made also the little flowers which are nourished and strengthened by its heat. His love and care are unlimited, not only to the flowers, but to His human creatures. Not one is considered too insignificant or too small to be loved and cared for by Him. “If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matt. 6:30.

Let us not despise the lesson taught us by little things. Almost all of Christ’s teaching was of this nature. Let us give heed to these eloquent little preachers. Let us not be like the one of whom it is said:—

“A primrose by a river’s brim A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more.”

St. Helena, Cal.