The Book and The Preachers

There are people who believe that "reading the stars" can show them the way to luck whether in romantic relationship, career and financial success. The stars are not meant to tell us about human fortune. The Bible tells us that the stars, the sun, the moon and the entire galaxies were made to declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-6). 

The psalmist used other terms like proclaim, pour forth speech, voice, and words to describe that the heavens speak. The use of these expressions is difficult to understand if we think of heavens' speech literally. However, if we read it as poetry, then the expressions start to make sense.

The psalmist tells us that the heavens indeed speak. They speak the glory of God, the work of his hands and knowledge. The heavens' voice is constant. It reaches all peoples of the world. Therefore, no one can plead innocence for not knowing God.

In the language of the apostle Paul, the entire creation - the heavens, the earth and the waters - is created to reveal God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1: 20).

In the light of these two biblical references, there are commentators who describe creation as a "book" and the heavens, the earth and the waters as "preachers". Since the entire creation is a book that speaks about God's glory, the work of his hands, knowledge, God's eternal power and divine nature, all peoples of the world are under obligation to read this great book. If the heavens, the earth and the waters are indeed preachers, the whole humanity has the responsibility to pay attention to their message. 

But many would object that the book is incomprehensible and the preachers' message  is unclear. Man in his natural state is divided how to assess the existence of this natural book and preachers. There are those who say that if these witnesses show the existence of God, He could not be possibly known. Knowing God is inaccessible. Still others would say that the existence of this book and preachers show nothing but themselves. The supposed message beyond nature they bring is only believed by those who live in a fantasy world. 

However, in reality, the entire visible creation reveals the invisible qualities of God, but it never shows the way for fallen humanity to know the other knowledge of God. Only the other book, the book of special grace can show fallen humanity the knowledge of God the Redeemer. Believing in the central message of this book will restore fallen men and women back to the original intent of their creation. They will begin to acknowledge rationally that indeed the message of the natural book and preachers are very clear. They will join them in declaring the glory of God.