"You find out more about God from the Moral Law than from the universe in general just as you find out more about a man by listening to his conversation than by looking at a house he has built." Mere Christianity

If the only revelation of God which we had was the universe in general, what would we most naturally conclude about God?

1. I think we would be led to believe that God was a great artist, because the universe is certainly a creation of tremendous beauty.
2. In examining the far-flung galaxies, through all the aids of modern science, we might conclude that the Creator is indeed large, larger than the immense creation itself, if we are even to attribute size to God.
3. We would most likely conclude that the Creator of the universe must be a God of order, for certainly through science and natural observation human beings have discovered many patterns in the functioning of the cosmos.
4. But then we would also have to say, given the storms, earthquakes and other natural disasters which regularly occur on our own planet, that the Creator is no friend to humanity.
5. And given the immensity of the universe, why should the Mind behind it all even care about us, mere specks of dust that we are, floating on a slightly larger speck of dust, in a vast landscape which the specks themselves can't fully comprehend?

Thankfully the Creator has not left us with the universe itself as our only clue to God's nature and purposes.  And if, in addition to the universe, we only had the moral law to reveal God's desires, wouldn't that law leave us hopeless as well?  For we don't keep the moral law, and the law itself only shows us that the Creator cares about right conduct.  We would be left wondering whether God loves us.  Does God, can God, forgive us when we stray so far from God's own original intentions for us?  This is a question which, ultimately, only the revelation in Jesus Christ answers.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits which thou hast given to me,

For all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful redeemer, father and brother,

May I know thee more clearly,

Love thee more dearly

And follow thee more nearly,

Day by day."

Richard of Chichester 1197-1253