Then we shall see in full

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

Night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

No sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, 

Their words to the ends of the world."

[Psalm 19:1-4]

I love how God reveals himself to us through his wonderful creation. It's easy to see on beautiful days like today was (in Sydney, at least) that the heavens certainly do declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands! God is gracious and merciful to those of us who might doubt his existence or majesty by creating such a beautiful world in which he makes his glory known.

I went on a bike ride through the national park with my Dad on Wednesday and while it was exhausting, I'm glad we did it. At one point, we were riding for quite a while up one of the hills, and as we reached the top to stop for a drink we noticed a beautiful view over the valley through the trees. So I took the opportunity to take a few photos and take it in as we took a little breather. The view made the climb to the top of that hill worthwhile.

But then we hopped on our bikes again only to find that 50 metres further up the road was an even more spectacular view - not through a tiny peephole created by the surrounding trees, but an almost 180 degree view over the valley. And it was gorgeous. (The photo from my phone doesn't do it justice!) The warm sun flooded the folds in the earth, giving life to the foliage as it smiled back up towards it.

As we rode on, this got me wondering what it'll be like once we finally leave this broken, bruised earth, and get to meet Jesus face to face in Heaven. Don't you think we'll be thinking, "What the heck were we so excited about earth for?! This is incredible!"? At the moment all we see is a small display of God's power through his creation, yet it is fallen, and we are sinful. But when we reach heaven, we will see Jesus in his full splendour, through pure, sinless eyes. I look forward to that day, and I'm amazed to wonder - if this is the limit of our imagination; if this is all we know of how beautiful creation can be, then how indescribably spectacular must Heaven be?

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

[1 Corinthians 13:12]