“Applauding the Sunset”
“Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!” (Psalm 113:3, Christian Standard Bible)
One of the nicest parts of being at the beach on the gulf side of Florida is watching the sunsets. And one of the nicest parts of that is watching it with other people. Kids—especially girls—dance in the sand. Couples kiss. Some older couples dance.
But one of the sweetest things is that many people applaud when the sun goes down.
Why not?! We applaud after a wonderful performance at a concert or a play. Every sunset is a wonderful performance.
I don’t know how many of those who applaud the sunset are Christ-followers. But I do know this: To praise the art is not far removed from praising the artist. There is always still hope for those who appreciate beauty. It is when people are no longer able to see the beauty around them that I am most fearful.
I do not believe that an appreciation of nature will save you, but I do believe that such appreciation holds promise. The world’s beauty may only be a portico outside the house of God, but perhaps if you appreciate the portico long enough, you may ask yourself the crucial question, “I wonder who lives here?” Perhaps you may even see that the door is open, and that there the smells of a truly Home-cooked meal are wafting from the kitchen. Perhaps you will gather all your courage, humility, and faith, and go in to meet the Artist.
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