God and the Weather?

Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

God speaks to us continually. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through people. He speaks to us in prayer. But God also speaks to us through His creation.

The Sacred Scriptures open by telling us that In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, (Gen. 1:1). God is the beginning, and history as we know it begins with Him creating. He creates through His Word, that is, through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made, (Jn. 1:1-3).

St. Paul tells us in the text quoted above that even those who have never heard the Gospel are without excuse because God speaks to us through His creation. They cannot plead ignorance to the moral law written in their conscience because they cannot ignore the natural revelation of God all around them. While that may make for some interesting theological and missiological debate, something else caught my attention as I was reading it lately.

If God is continually speaking through His creation, then what is He saying to us? Just because we have the fullness of His revelation in Christ and through His Church, does this mean that He no longer communicates to us through creation? I don't think so. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork, (Ps. 19:1). So even while we have the fullness of revelation, yet God continues to speak through creation. So what is He saying?

I think each one of us needs to take some time every day to ask this question. God is speaking in so many ways at so many times. We miss most of what He is saying. Part of our own ongoing conversion is the ability to pick up on more of these messages from the Lord.

Where I live we are in the midst of record cold temperatures as we are in the thick of winter. Yet, there have been times of sun. I have mixed feelings about snow. I hate shoveling it. I don't like driving in it. But it is beautiful to look at and fun to play in. So what is God saying to me through creation today. He is reminding me that the dark and cold of winter reflect a world that is in the grip of sin. Before the Fall of man into sin, there was perpetual summer (or warm spring, if you like). Everything was alive and fruitful. All was together in harmony.

Autumn represents dying and winter represents death. There are still beautiful parts about it, but that is what they represent. So on this cold winter day I hear God reminding me that even in the midst of a fallen world, He is still present with us. For I see the sun and there is beauty even in fallen creation.

What is God saying to us every day through nature, the animals, the climate, or the weather? Listen closely to these often unheard and unheeded messages. God is continually speaking to us. He is speaking to us right now in this moment. Look outside and listen. What is He saying to you now?