 Reality Check
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“Reality Checks” are devotional outlines for outdoor preachers and teachers that have worked well on Creation Safaris, in line with our motto Escape to Reality. These lessons should be thought out with additional Scriptures, explanations, illustrations, and personal testimonies to make them your own. Above all, handle with prayer.
– David F. Coppedge |
NATURAL REVELATION: GOD’S WORD IN GOD’S WORLD
Theme: Natural revelation, as distinguished from special revelation (which includes dreams, visions, angels, theophanies, Urim and Thummim, prophecy, the incarnation of Christ and Scripture – see Heb. 1:1-2) refers to what can be learned about God by observing creation or listening to one’s conscience.
Discuss: now that Christ is come, and we have the written Word of God, does nature still have value as God’s revelation?
- Nature Speaks to the Unbeliever
- Nature is perceivable at all places and all times by everyone.
- Nature/conscience is the only revelation many people have.
Paul appealed to natural revelation: Acts 14:15-17, 17:23-28.
The heathen have sufficient information (Little, pp. 67-69).
- Nature is the only revelation some people will heed (modern skeptics).
- Argument from design is still valid: Rom. 1:18-22, Ps 19:1-6.
William Paley’s “watchmaker” argument (Natural Theology, ch. 1,) is especially true with modern science: cells, DNA, brain, etc. Read: Mulfinger, pp. 7-9, Pinnock, pp. 108-110, Denton, pp. 328-330.
- Although it is possible for man to approach God through natural revelation and conscience (Matt 7:7, John 14:22-23, Rom 1-2, Acts 17:27) . . .
- False teachers, sin, lust and demons corrupt the revelation, making missionary effort vital: II Cor. 4:4, Rom 10:14-20.
- Nature Speaks to the Believer
- Nature reveals many attributes of God:
His incomprehensibility (Job 9:1-12), wisdom (Prov 3:19-20, Prov 8:22-31), holiness (Job 35:5-8), creativity (Job 38-41), power (Ps 65:1-8), righteousness (Ps 50:6, 97:1-6), glory (Ps 8:1, 19:1), sovereignty (Ps 115:3, 135:5-7), faithfulness (Ps 89:2), goodness (Acts 14:17), redemption (Rom 8:20-22).
- God Himself points to nature as a teacher: Job 38-41.
- Nature gets our focus off man’s works and onto the Creator.
- What about suffering, death, disease? Only the Biblical world view (the Fall) can explain: Gen 3, Rom. 8:20-23.
- Nature is the context for special revelation.
Christianity not just true to the dogmas, but to what exists. This gives reality–power–joy to the Word (Schaeffer, p. 17).
- Nature is a source of joy, learning and blessing.
It is a joy to study and appreciate nature: Ps 111:1-4, Ps 104. It is proper to give thanks: Rom 1:21 (“neither were thankful” is a description of the ungodly). Creation is the everlasting reason for worship: Rev. 14:6-7. (Notice how the “Everlasting Gospel” is far more encompassing than just the gospel of redemption—it is the eternal reason to praise God: because He created the heavens and earth.)
Group memory verse: Rev 14:7 (The Everlasting Gospel):
Saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him,
for the hour of His judgment has come;
and worship Him who made heaven and earth,
the sea and springs of water.”
Group memory hymn: THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD. See hymn story.
References:
Michael Denton, Evolution, a Theory in Crisis, Adler&Adler (1986), p. 14.
Paul Little, How to Give Away Your Faith, Inter-Varsity Press (1966), pp. 67-69.
George Mulfinger, “A Teleological Study of the Universe,” Design and Origins in Astronomy, Creation Research Society, pp. 1-10.
William Paley, Natural Theology (1801), St. Thomas Press. Online Book.
Clark Pinnock, Set Forth Your Case, Moody Press (1971), pp. 108-110.
Francis Schaeffer, He Is There and He Is Not Silent, Inter-Varsity Press, p. 17.
