Blue skies and green grass: these are a few of my favorite things. I also thoroughly enjoy being outside in the presence of these two things. I tell the story of my love for blue skies and green grass at least once a year in my classroom, sometimes probably more than once. It’s a pretty sappy story if I do say so myself, so I will save you from reading it today. Instead, I will share another aspect of the story as it has recently been swirling around in my head.

The short story of my of love for blue skies and green grass involves the fact that I am truly amazed at the way in which these two colors seem to match so well. When I see a field of luscious green grass against the contrast of the bright blue sky, when they seem to touch in the distant horizon, I am overcome with awe. Now, my favorite color is by far still black, and I will stand by this forever, but I just cannot seem to deny the existence of a Creator in the perfection of this blue and green. When I add to that the biological aspects at play in order for us to even see color, the awe is heightened. My very brief time of Google research has informed me that in order to see the colors we do, several things have to be in place. The colors that we see occur when light bounces off of something which is then perceived by our eyes. Light contains tiny little particles called photons, and our eyes contain photoreceptors, the tiny little parts of our eyes that receive the photons. Since these photons come in different wavelengths, our eyes see the different color that each wavelength produces. Hence, the rainbow. The photoreceptors inside the eye allow us to see black, white, and color. When the photoreceptors do not all work correctly, we might be color blind. Thankfully, I am not color blind, so I am privileged to see these amazing colors.

Here is the part that gets me. These processes, the photons and photoreceptors, are microscopic. All of what I briefly, and likely uneducatedly, explained takes place in such minute ways that we are quite unaware of what is taking place. I just open my eyes, the sun is shining, and bam! I see a pleasantly, beautiful scene. All of which was simply created when God said, “Let there be light.” Let that sink in for a moment. God spoke; we see beauty. Magnificent, awe-inspiring beauty. Ready for more? This phenomenal process was unknown for thousands of years. For years upon years upon years, the blue sky just was. It took a very long time before some scientist, Sir Isaac Newton I believe, was blessed with the gifts of intelligence and curiosity that enabled him to walk down the road of uncovering the science behind what is seen. If I have not magnified God in your eyes yet, maybe you should take a second read and pause a little a longer to contemplate. God is an awfully powerful and creative Being.

I was recently reminded of this awfully powerful God while reading the book of Daniel. Daniel contains some of the great Bible stories that are easily taught to children. And as a side note, Shane and Shane once wrote a dang good song from one of these stories which you should check out (Burn Us Up). Anyway, God miraculously saves his followers twice from incredibly dangerous, and rather impossible, situations. When Nebuchadnezzar throws Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a scorching hot fiery furnace for not worshipping his golden image, he questions “And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15). They boldly and confidently respond, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand” (Daniel 3:17). Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace heated so hot that the men who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to the furnace were killed just from getting close to it, yet God somehow covered His people and saved them from the burning flames. When these men walked out of the fire unharmed, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled, decreeing “there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way” (Daniel 3:29). Similarly, when Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den a few chapters later for worshipping God rather than King Darius, Darius declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6:16). Naturally, God delivers. When Darius witnesses Daniel leave the lion’s den the next morning without even a scratch, he writes to the people of his kingdom to “tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God,

enduring forever,

His kingdom shall never be destroyed,

And his dominion shall be to the end.

He delivers and rescues;

He works signs and wonders

In heaven and on earth,

He who has saved Daniel

From the power of the lions”

Daniel 6:26-27

God turned the flames away from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he shut the lion’s mouth that it might not harm Daniel. God also created the awfully beautiful blue sky and green grass. The writer of Hebrews reminds me of one crucial element:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

When I consider the God that spoke and incredibly minute scientific processes came to life, and that that same God turned flames and shut mighty jaws, I am challenged to remember that that same God is at work today. There is no detail too small for God to pass over and no feat too large for God to conquer. He has been in the business of drawing and reconciling people to Himself since the fall of Adam and Eve, and His business is not yet over. Sometimes I think we Americans are too “cultured” to still believe in a God that works miracles, and that leaves us desperate and hopeless in a world that is full of hurt.

Be encouraged that the God of today is the same God of yesterday. Remember the mighty works that He has already done in your life and remember that He is still about doing mighty works. When your situation seems even bigger than anything He has already done in your life, remember the mighty works that have been recorded for us in His Word, and believe that He has yet to do His mightiest work in your life.