It is amazing to think of the intricate details God has placed in every aspect of His creation. Nature knows who God is and waits for His return. You know, when mankind fell it wasn’t only mankind that felt the pain of the curse.
For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:19-22
I think we forget when sin entered the world it didn’t affect just us. It affected all of God’s creation. Creation along with each of us is waiting for Christ’s return to be set free from the curse.
Sunflowers make me happy! Recently, I was driving to Upstate New York and there was a whole field of sunflowers bobbing against the green grass wearing their yellow sunbonnets. It was beautiful. My father plants sunflowers every year in his garden. As they spring up from the ground it is like they are stretching their arms up to the sun. Every month they get taller and taller until their heads get so big they turn and smile at you.
Did you know the scientific name for a sunflower is Helianthus, from Helios for sun and Anthos for flower? So often we look at plants and flowers just for our enjoyment, but God created them for so much more. There are over sixty varieties of sunflowers. The Native Americans used them for food and for their oil. Sunflowers are rich in oil and provide calcium and other nutrients we all can benefit from. An average sunflower can produce up to 2000 seeds. That is a lot of food for birds and snacking for humans. Another well-known characteristic of a sunflower is how the head of the flower will actually follow the sun. It is called heliotropism.
In the morning you will find a sunflower facing east as the sun rises. The same direction Jesus will return from:
For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:27
Who are you following? Are you waiting in anticipation of Christ’s return? Creation is looking forward to the day when it joins us in complete freedom and will no longer be corrupted because of sin. God created nature to provide enjoyment and sustain us in our physical bodies. Without plants there would be no life and we would die. It makes me wonder how different nature would be if Adam and Eve had not sinned. Many times, I have taken for granted the purpose of creation, but when a sunflower can teach you a valuable lesson its purpose is fulfilled.
God knows every detail of this universe and everything was done intentionally and with purpose. God in all His infinite wisdom made every living thing to glorify Him, and even a Sunflower follows the Son!
