Reflection: God’s two books
There is a metaphor that is often used by Christians to describe the relationship between science and theology. It speaks of God revealing himself in two books. One is the book of God’s word, the Bible. The other is the book of God’s works: the created natural world that science investigates. Galileo Galilei, one of the great scientists of history, puts it this way: “the Bible teaches us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”
At the beginning of Romans, Paul holds people to account because, he says, we should recognise that the creation “speaks” of a creator. Even Professor Richard Dawkins, the famous biologist and new atheist, says that “we live in a wonderful universe and we ought to be grateful.” But, he says, there is no one to be grateful to. Christians know differently.
Let’s allow the wonders of creation—the book of God’s works—to speak to us and draw us to praise the Creator.
Prayer: Lord God Creator, revealed in your creation and in your written word, we give you thanks for the wonders of creation revealed to all people, and we pray for those around us who do not know you, that they will see your invisible qualities in what you have made.
We pray too for ourselves, that we might lead others in pursuit of knowing the Creator of heaven and earth.