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On our planet
I wonder if any of you are enjoying the 'Planet Earth' series that's currently being shown on BBC. I think the photography is wonderful and in the 'diary' bit at the end of each installment when you hear the extent the makers of the programme have gone to secure a few seconds of film is fascinating indeed. The film of the snow leopard a couple of weeks ago was amazing when you saw what is an extremely rare animal chasing its prey at high speed down the side of a precipitous mountain only for the young antelope to escape at the very last moment.
The series shows the variety of amazing landscapes in this world from pole to pole and captures on film the creatures that inhabit each and the ways that they are adapted to dealing with their habitat.
The informative commentary is provided by David Attenborough who has been involved in films of this nature for the last thirty years or so. When he was being interviewed on another programme, the interviewer asked him if he held any beliefs about a creator. It was disappointing to hear him say more or less that all these wonders had just evolved over a period of time. I found it astonishing that someone who sounded like an intelligent man and who has seen sights that none of us will ever observe could advocate that all the wonders he was reporting on were all part of one huge accident. However many of these wonders he had observed, it had not been revealed to him how it had all come about. He could not accept the concept of a 'Supreme Being' creating the heavens and earth and creating Adam and Eve as the beginning of mankind.
Do any of us have similar doubts?
There are many references in the scriptures to the creation over and above the account in the early books of Genesis. I suggest you read Job Chapters 38 to 41 as one example and another is in the book of Jeremiah Chapter 10 verses 10 to 13 which says:
'But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you (Jeremiah) say to them: "the gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens."'
It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
When it comes to the creation, there will always be aspects that from mankind's scientific point of view will always remain unexplained no matter their level of intellect.
In the scriptures we are blessed with the answers for those who choose to look.
A tale told in old Jerusalem
Father Abraham sat in front of his tent, tapping the dusty ground with his walking stick, heartsick and lonely. That morning he had sent away his first born son, Ishmael. A voice had promised to make Ishmael into a great nation, but how could he survive in the desert?
"The Lord knows your heart", came a voice from close beside him. Turning, Father Abraham saw two strangers. He rose hurriedly, and greeted them. Then he poured out his doubts and fears.
The strangers said, "Plant your walking stick into the ground. Water it faithfully for 30 days. If at the end of that time the stick has taken root and begun to grow, you will know that the Lord will keep His promises."
Abraham carefully planted and watered the stick. By the end of the month, the dead wood had fresh green leaves. He knew that the Lord would keep His promises.
Centuries passed, and King Solomon began to build the Temple. Abraham's tree, the largest tree in the forest, was cut down. The builders found the timber so hard, that they could not shape or carve it. Finally, they cast it away, and everyone who passed by cursed and spat on it, because it was worthless.
More centuries passed, and soldiers were ordered to execute a young carpenter from Nazareth. A priest whispered in the ear of the centurion who was in charge of executions. Soon the soldiers unearthed a huge piece of wood from a nearby rubbish heap. It was the Cursed Tree, which would not fit into the Temple. The man who had caused so much trouble deserved to hang on it.
So it happened that, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree'." (Galatians 3:13)
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