We live in a very stressful time. Constantly on the run, we tear around between hundreds of errands and things that we need to do right now, this very instant. And sometimes in this haste, we rush past life itself, not noticing its beauty. Stop and look back- if just for a second!
Stunning mountain peaks, the splendor of an autumn forest, the mirror-water in lakes that reflect the blue sky above and the shining stars. The birds circling above, the travel of fish on their way to spawning. The earth is full of beauty. Even in the indents of a bluebonnet growing under our feet… All we need to do is to pay a little attention when looking around. And listen – not all of the beauty is visible.
The trill of a nightingale, the mewing of a kitten, the rippling creek… How often do we pay attention to all this? The world is full of pleasing sounds. We hear them, and these sounds complement the glory and harmony of the surrounding world. But often, we rush past it without noticing. We are not taken by what is going on around us; our eye is preoccupied with the electronic world.
The flickering phone screens keep us informed of the latest news. We browse through social media and other portals, as well as waste time playing games. And in the evening, tired and weary, we hurry to relax in front of our big home TV screen. Yes, the modern world offers us its own ways. But we shouldn’t stop noticing that which calms and relaxes us best, that which brings us peace and inner clarity. The starry skies, gray clouds bringing thunder, the gentleness of a flower which mysteriously grew through the asphalt, and a uniquely designed snowflake.
Where does this beauty come from? From whence is its strength, its source? What is it for?
Let’s imagine that we suddenly received an amazing gift; for instance, a bouquet of flowers. We don’t know who it’s from, no one saw who brought it, but nonetheless we are very pleased and still want to find out who was the one who gifted it. The bouquet is so beautiful that we are sure this person feels affection toward us, maybe even loves us. That person spent time and money to make us happy. Nothing is too hard for a loved one. The beauty that surrounds us is a remarkable gift from a loving God. Because of it, we can see His amazing qualities. God is invisible, but all that is visible to us tells us about Him.
God is the Creator and the expert in all that is perfect. He placed this desire for all that’s beautiful in humans. The world around us- nature, is truly breathtaking, and it speaks to us about its Creator, and all we need to do is keep our eyes and ears open. People have also created. Architectural buildings and art creations summon feelings of awe and admiration. By looking at them we notice the signature of the author.
It’s especially helpful if we know something about him, like to which era belongs this or that creation. We want to know in what historical times and based on which personal experiences this masterpiece was made. People have created much more than masterpieces; they created an organized way of life. We have shopping plazas, entertainment centers, businesses, and companies. But sadly, not all of this is safe and beautiful. Some cause significant damage to nature, while others damage a person’s body and soul.
“And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
This is what the pages of the Bible tell us. The holy Word of God also tells us that “God is love.” 1 John 4:8
This invisible but very loving God created the world around us in just six days and has not stopped taking care of it ever since. God continues existing, living in everything that He created. The world exists not because God loved it one day, but because He continues loving it. And the fact that everything, from the atoms to the galaxies, continues to run smoothly is praise to the One Who “hath made the earth by His power. He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His understanding.” Jeremiah 51:15
The whole universe consists of the visible and the invisible, from the material to the spiritual. People mostly notice and value that which is visible. However, more often that which is invisible is of much higher value. For example, a person. What is more important in him: his body or his soul? Every one of us surely has visible beauty. It could be our figure, some individual feature that makes us special. For one, it’s his sparkling eyes, the other – a pleasant smile. The beauty trends change with every century and are different in every culture. They also change in the process of life.
A newborn baby, beautiful in its own way; a young girl stunning with her youthful looks; a young mother holding a child; or an elderly lady with silvering hair all have a certain appeal about them. Our bodies, and every carefully designed detail in them, speak about the Creator’s great plan in regard to a person. Even the fact that we age and are prone to sicknesses and diseases tells us a lot. Our soul lets us know about the Creator also, especially when a person dies and leaves this earth to go to a place he can no longer come back from. Who ever saw a soul? No one. But how great is the importance for it to be truly beautiful! It’s so important to have beautiful thoughts, intentions, deeds, actions, and high spiritual qualities.
These things are invisible to the eye, but this important, noticeable beauty of the heart has the ability to change everything surrounding us. It is so significant. The invisible God takes care of His creation. The Lord tells us, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” And another verse, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than them?” Mathew 6:26
God created everything surrounding us with great love, and He really wants us to notice His love toward us. His gentle care was seen throughout history. It became visible when the invisible God, through the birth of Jesus Christ, became seen and available to all people. Jesus said to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” John 14:1–4
Through the cost of His crucifixion, death, and glorious resurrection, people now have access to Heaven. God’s creation is not yet done. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17
Looking up at the visible heavens, we know that there is an invisible heavenly kingdom of which the pages of the Holy Bible tell us. Jesus Christ told us about it. Many people think of it as unreal and irrelevant, they are too busy with all that is visible. However, apostle Paul said these words: “for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
When you are at your weakest, God is at His strongest.
A. V. Smirnova