The Hand at the Wheel
For most of us this is what trivia is made up of—lengthy lists of information that really doesn’t make a huge impact on our lives—except, of course, for those of us who are anticipating another winter of snow.
I googled all this “trivia” for a reason. One of the studies I lead is based in the book of Genesis and we spent our last session talking about the creative genius of God. As I was moving from one book to another in my own devotional time, I decided to read Hebrews and sure enough, the first chapter is yet another reminder of that genius, this time focused on Christ as Creator.
We know from other passages of Scripture that Jesus was a primary part of that creative team that made it all. For example, John 1:1-4 tells us: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
That creative “Word” is further explained in Hebrews 1:3,10-12.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They perish, but you remain; they will wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
I look out this morning on a beautiful sunny fall day in my part of the world—unusually warm for this time of the year. A couple of days ago I walked the trails around one of the many lakes we have in our region, enjoying the crisp air and the late afternoon sun playing hide and seek through the tall trees.
My Jesus did this. And He still sustains it all. In a few days what I see from my window may be blanketed with snow. He will have looked after that too—every unique snowflake of it.
It’s wonderful to know that Someone who is constant and faithful and loving has His hand on the wheel of the natural world around me. He gives what He gives, and takes what He takes, not out of some game of chance, or the spin of some cosmic wheel of fortune, but deliberately and according to His divine design to work His will out in our lives for His glory and our ultimate benefit.
Today I remember that. Tomorrow, when a cold wind blows in a blizzard from the north and I am walking out there in -40 degree temperatures, it might not be so easy to remember.
That’s why I’m writing this down!
It really is wonderful to know Someone who is constant and faithful and loving has His hand on the wheel of the natural world—and everything else as well.
P.S. Several hours after I posted this I attended Remembrance Ceremonies here in town. A priest gave the final benediction. Before he prayed he said that at least this year he didn't have to apologize, ON GOD'S BEHALF, for the lousy weather as he had done a year earlier. Poor guy—you never have to apologize on God's behalf for the weather—HE SENDS IT THE WAY HE WANTS IT and to claim otherwise is to lower Him to an incompetent who can't control His own creation.
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