But it cannot change a person. This is something that I learned while at church several Sundays ago. My pastor was speaking on Psalm 19 which is one of my favorite portions of the Bible. In it, David is praising God for creation.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
As soon as Pastor Mike said he was speaking on Psalm 19, a smile immediately came to my face. I love this Scripture! Everything that it talks about is what I long for my photography to be. I see the beauty in nature that many people take for granted or miss altogether. God has given a gift to me in that I can see His love and perfection in nature. This is what I dream of sharing with the world through my photography. I don't want people to just be inspired by a photo of something in nature, I want them to see God. It is my duty to share the Word of God with the world because without that, they will only be inspired, but not changed. Nature cannot show that God is good, otherwise we'd be lost in a world where natural selection truly existed in its most primitive form- every man seeking to further himself and dominate or remove the weak. The Word of God is the link that reveals to people God's goodness. And the Word of God is revealed by the Holy Spirit. Talk about some deep stuff!
I hope you are coming to understand why I take pictures and what it means for me. I pray that you would be blessed by them and drawn closer to God because of them. Never be afraid to ask questions. Seek God, He's saved my life, and if He can do that, He can certainly do the same for you!
Psalm 8:3-4
"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"
