The Bible is a book about beauty. David writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech…The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:1, 2, and 8). It is the beauty of creation and truth that has always drawn me to the Scriptures.
Indeed, “every person is drawn to beauty,” writes Thomas Dubay, author of the magisterial work, The Evidential Power of Beauty. (His book has inspired me deeply in understanding beauty in theology and science.) Whether it be a night sky of endless stars, golden aspen trees lining a mountain, or an epic movie soundtrack, all men and women note beauty when they see it or experience it.
Beauty packs power. Whether it be seen on a landscape or experienced in solidly grounded truth, we are impacted at the heart level.
New discoveries in science, cosmology, and physics are trumpeting the power of beauty. Nobel prize winner Richard Feynman has said, “You can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.” Biochemist Lewis Thomas experienced the power of beauty when he discovered that every species of animal on the paleontological strata is perfect according to its kind.
New discoveries in the early stages of formation of human beings in a mother’s womb have pointed to the perfection of God’s design. The unmatched beauty of the lives of the saints in history leave us in awe when we discover and read about their testimonies. Dubay writes, “A heroically holy man or woman is the pinnacle of visible creation and proof in the flesh that both science and revelation are right.”
Just the other day I caught a wild brown trout, and as I held the fish in my hand, I was struck again by the beauty of its symmetry of colors and the strength of its tail. Its beauty stopped my fishing for a moment, and I could not help but meditate.
Encountering beauty should be a normal part of our lives. It’s all around us. Take time to experience it.
Pastor Steve
