Waiting for the Dawn

The creaking of the door hinge was the only sound that interrupted the pre-dawn quiet. I took my seat and joined with all nature as we waited together for the coming of the Sun. As the light began to once more overtake the darkness I participated in the art of worship. Slowly the new day dawned, first shapes came into focus and as the Sun rose higher those dark shapes were given color. The silence was replaced by the chorus of birds. As the light unveiled the beauty around me I was reminded that all of creation is eagerly longing for the return of the LORD who, "wraps himself in light as with a garment."

Long ago when sin first entered the garden, "the creation itself was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:20,21) When the ones created in God's own image rebelled against Him a curse was placed upon all of creation. Because man loved what was created more than he loved the Creator the ground was cursed, "thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you." (Genesis 3:18) As a result of this curse all of creation groans.

God is a God of beauty and creation and in the beginning when the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters His plan was to take the earth, which was then without form and void where darkness was over the face of the deep, and create light. As I read the words of Genesis again and again I see the joy of creation. "The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent." (Psalm 104:2) Day after day the Creator looked at His creation and saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over all the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth...And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good." (Genesis 1:30) God's invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature were clearly perceived in what He had created. But the man and woman whom He created in His image did not honor Him as God but became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. The enemy of their soul offered them the forbidden fruit and, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."(Romans 1:22,23) With the fall of man came the curse and the thorns and the thistles.

The same God who subjected His creation to futility because of the rebellion of the first Adam also gave the promise of a second Adam who would come and set it free from the bondage of decay. The second Adam, Jesus stood before Pilate and declared that His kingdom was not of this world. In mockery of Him the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. Jesus bore the curse of death and the curse of creation as He hung upon the cross. In Him the full promise of salvation was completed.

Morning by morning I join with creation in the art of worship. As the Sun rises calling forth the song of birds and revealing the beauty of all that surrounds me I am reminded that this creation like me is eagerly waiting for the return of the Son of God. There will come a day when the one who wore the crown of thorns will come and night will be no more.