God of the Unseen

Yesterday, I was blessed to be part of a successful excursion to the Valley of the Giants, and had a beautiful day of enjoying God's creation and fellowship with His people.  High in the hills, we rested, explored, had conversations and contests, and took pleasure in simple things.  Being in such a place, nearly untouched by man's "improvements", one can see clearly how much care God puts into His works, and praise Him for them.  And just to get to this little haven, we drove through miles of forest that is surely as lovely, yet likely has never been explored by man, at least in this generation.  But still the river washes faithfully over smooth rocks, flowers bloom and trees stand strong, and birds sing, even if humans don't observe it.

If God made this earth for our enjoyment, what is the point of all the things that come and go on it without ever once being seen by man?  Is it all just filler?  I wouldn't say so.  God made this world with our pleasure in mind, yes, but even more than that, He made it for His own pleasure.  He enjoys the beauty of it even more than we do, because it's all of His making.  Creation, corrupted though it now is, is more faithful to declare Him than we often are.  The things unknown to us sing His praise, whether anyone else sees it or not.

What an example for us humans, who are so dependent on the affirmation of our fellows that we will hardly lift a finger to do a task that no one will give us credit for.  Can we learn be content to praise God just for the joy of it, just because it's what we were made to do?  If by sharing our praise with others we can fulfill our purpose, let us do so, but let us not be discontent to bless the Lord where only He will see -- it's all for Him anyway!  His pleasure is the ultimate reward.

The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1