The line between Nature and Scripture

Look on any map of North America and you’ll see the line dividing Canada and the US. Cross this line and the dollar is worth less (it used to be worth more). Cross this line and people say “aboot” rather than “about.”

In truth, the line makes for easier management of countless things. National sovereignty, for one.

But I’ve crossed the US-Canada border countless times, from the eastern seaboard to the western seaboard and points in between. I have never seen The Line.

We like maps for their clear lines. Us and them. Here and there. In our minds the world as we know it is a world sliced by lines. But the reality is much more complicated: there are no lines.

Now, here are two more sovereignties: Nature is called general revelation and the Bible is called special revelation. I have no qualms with these domains as they are usually understood. The words of special revelation tell us things about God that general revelation only hints at: the person-hood of God; salvation through the Son; the last things (which no one seems to get clear even with special revelation).

But I am struck by just how much the Bible (the special revelation) specially uses the beauty of Nature to descry the power of God. It is not general; it is very specific. So much so that men have no excuse not to know God – not just any God, but the God of the Scriptures, the God of special revelation.

Just several months ago we had at least 20 inches of snow on our roof – maybe close to 24 inches, and ever the threat of it all turning to ice because of the intermittent rains. Roofs were collapsing in our area.

Like many others, I ventured atop the house with my son to push the snow off. After 30 minutes of moving the immense weight of shovel after shovel of snow, my heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. And we had barely made a dent. So I told my son: “Let’s get down: it’s either a roof collapse or my life; I’ll take my chances.”

Just 36 hours later, with an ever-so slight warming of the temperatures, the snow atop the roof was gone. I was awestruck by the power of Nature.

But I saw no lines.

Logos2Go

Psalm 147.15-20 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like crumbs - can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord!

Romans 1.20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.