The Lesson of Nature by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 20, 1902

The Lesson of Nature

By Uriah Smith

Editorial

The Lesson of Nature

BY the lessons which he gave during his earthly ministry, the great Teacher has so connected the things of nature with the things of the Spirit as to make it clear that they are not separate revelations, but only different parts of the one revelation of the infinite character of God. Before sin entered into the world, casting a shadow over the face of nature and darkening the human mind, man could read upon every leaf of the trees, as readily as we can now read upon the leaf of the written word, the revelation that “God is love.” The same revelation is there still, and the Saviour’s teaching interprets it to us. Those who will accept the interpretation will find the things of nature constantly speaking to them of the presence, the power, and the goodness of the Creator of all.

The Inaudible Voice

ONE whose eyes have been anointed can see more in the things about him than mere masses of material and combinations of color. “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity.” He whose ears have been opened can hear in the sounds which come to him, the messages of love from the Father of all, and even where there is no wave of sound, and “all inaudible is their voice,” still he hears and reads the same messages. He misses much of the truest enjoyment in life, and fails to avail himself of the means of continual fellowship offered to him, whose experience has not been enriched by the interpretation of nature as given in the written word. He sees and hears to the best advantage in the one who has learned, through the aid of the revelation in the written message, to see the invisible and to hear the inaudible, and to recognize the one message of truth in them all.

The Study of Nature

THE study of nature may be much more to the Christian than the mere gratification of the sense of the beautiful. Even this benefit is not to be despised, but there is the possibility of much more. In the light of the Scripture we may recognize every created object as the material form with which the Word has clothed itself, and we may be constantly sustained with the thought that the power which forms and upholds all things about us has been given to us to form us into the divine image, and to uphold us in all our ways. A look at a beautiful landscape, a view of a noble mountain rearing its head to the clouds, the sight of a mighty waterfall or of the mirror-like surface of the quiet lake, ought in either case to inspire a new sense of hope and courage in the heart of the Christian, as they impress him directly with a sense of the Creator’s love and power, or as they bring to his mind the words of some familiar text which interprets the real meaning of the scene before him. The same principle applies to nature study with the help of pictures. It is better to study the face of nature than the faces of men. Although the curse rests heavily upon the works of God, and his handiwork has been marred by sin, yet there is still such a revelation in the things that are made as will bring blessing to those who will receive it. It will be a helpful experience to each one of us if we discipline our minds to recognize the connection which actually exists between God’s written word and his works. This will enable us to keep God always in our thoughts, and to enjoy the continual fellowship of his presence.

The King Does not Sell, but Gives

THE reader has doubtless heard of the poor woman who, passing by a royal garden, looked longingly at the flowers within, and sought to purchase some for her little daughter who was ill at home. But the gardener rudely and angrily repulsed her, saying, “The king’s flowers are not for sale.” But just then the king himself happened to pass by, and taking in the situation, and having respect to the woman’s request, plucked a beautiful bouquet with his own hand, and presented it to the woman, saying, “True, the king’s flowers are not for sale; he does not sell them, but he gives them away.” It is so with the Lord. The most valuable treasure in the possession of the great King, for bestowal upon his creatures, is the gift of eternal life; but like the gift of the flowers in the incident just noted, he does not sell it, but gives it away. Only on the condition that we appreciate it above everything we are required to give up may we acquire its possession; we must appreciate and recognize the love that has provided it, above everything we can forego to gain it. But if one should attempt to buy it, he would find that it is not for sale. The only wages offered for anything that we can do, of ourselves, is death. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” All can have this beautiful production from the field of heaven, who will seek it, and accept of it from the Lord of life and glory. U. S.