“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

Psalm 119:89

I grew up on the gloriously scenic central coast of California where I also met and married my husband Tom, who was a youth pastor in the quant little beach town of Cayucos at the time.  For one rather large youth event he had procured a popular Christian band from Detroit who made it enthusiastically known how excited they were to play in such a beautiful setting.  “How can anyone in California not believe in God?  In Detroit, it’s easy not to believe in God, but here, it’s just too obvious!”  

I understood his point. California indeed contains unparalleled scenic wonders, from the highest peak to the lowest desert, the biggest, and the tallest, and the oldest trees in the world, rolling grasslands, fertile valleys and of course, it’s extensive and  diverse stretch of coastline.  Yes, God’s handiwork is on clear and concentrated display in this great state.  Detroit might not have access to all those wonders, but according to Romans 1:19,20, Detroit is still without excuse.  

Even in the most populated, polluted, nature-starved place on earth, or the most barren, windswept landscape you can imagine.  Even in Detroit, there are still at least 2 obvious, clearly perceived witnesses to not only God’s existence but His invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature.  Every person on earth from the beginning of time to its end has seen the faithful rising and setting of the sun, or even without eyes, has felt its warmth.  

We, all of us, from Detroit to Dubai, live under the same glory declaring, righteousness proclaiming, knowledge revealing sky.  And from the poorest shepherd boy to the wealthiest king, we like the Psalmist, have known the Imageo Dei.  Who of us can look up at that sky and not ask the God whose image in which we are made, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3,4 

Easy not to believe in God?  According to Romans 1:18,19, it’s only as easy as suppressing the truth by unrighteousness, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”  Yes friend, God has made Himself known (Psalm 9:16).  Now, when was the last time you went outside and looked up at His message to you?