A Good Look Around

W

orking at a major university is a very humbling experience.  At any given moment, in various classrooms all over campus, men and women stand in front of students and spew forth knowledge that spans the whole of human learning.  Courses are taught in all subjects ranging from ancient Greek literature to evolutionary psychology.  I have no idea what this last field of study entails.  

 

But then again, that’s the way it is on every campus the world over.  There is so much to learn and so much to consider that it would take several lifetimes just to scratch the surface.   Every day on my way from our classroom building to the parking lot, I walk past the main library.  This building is several stories tall.  Inside is a wonderful collection of books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and computers.  It is indeed possible to access the whole of human knowledge in this one building.  What a daunting and humbling task that would be! 

 

The seminary too has its own library.  It is a large building filled with books, articles, journals, magazines, and computers.  It represents the sum of knowledge written about God’s word.  As with the university’s library, it would take a lifetime to go through every book and article written on the various aspects found in the Bible.  On more than one occasion I have found myself overwhelmed as I perused the stacks, looking for a particular commentary or article about a specific idea found in the Scriptures. 

 

All of this learning and knowledge can be, as I said, overwhelming.  It can also lead us to believe that without an academic degree we aren’t truly educated and without a seminary degree we can’t fully understand God’s word.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially where this last statement is concerned. 

 

The vast majority of the men and women in the Bible had no seminary training.  Abraham never studied theology, King David never took a class in Greek, Moses didn’t study homiletics (preaching) and none of the twelve disciples had the credentials to be considered a serious candidate for the pastorate of a church by any present-day search committee.  However, their knowledge and understanding of God’s word was decidedly profound.  Their classroom was life and their library consisted of the things around them and in their history.  All they needed was a good look around to see God and to understand His work. 

 

David speaks directly to this point in Psalm 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”  David reminds us today that all creation speaks to us about God.  Every tree, every plant, every star in the sky, and the face of everyone we meet reminds us of the great God we serve.  Study is important, spending time delving into God’s word is essential, but God makes Himself known to us everyday is so many different ways. 

 

Wherever you are today in your walk with God, I trust you will take time to stop and take a good look around.  You will see Him at the office, you will see Him at lunch, you will see Him at the grocery store, and you will see Him in the night sky before you go to sleep.  God is the creator of all you see and He is constantly aware of where you are at any given moment.  Have you taken a good look around today?  Perhaps you should!