When summer finally arrives in Alberta, some are eager to play their favourite outdoor sport again. Others love to resume their craft of gardening. Still, many others are excited about returning to the Rockies.

In these increasingly transient and chaotic times, the steadfastness of the Rockies is a welcome reprieve. Whether we are taking in Kananaskis Country’s hiking trails, Jasper’s waterfalls, Banff’s summit vistas or Lake Louise’s turquoise hue, there is much of Alberta for God’s people to savour and enjoy. Could it be any better?

Yes, indeed, it could—in these ways: discovering what is revealed about God in nature, and putting outdoor experiences in their proper place.

Reading God’s “Other” Book

First, we could learn to discover how every little aspect of nature shows something of God. When we visit places in the Rocky Mountains—or any other chosen destination in Alberta—we may be inclined to acknowledge how everything we see, in a general way, displays God’s glory, as the Apostle Paul states so well: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Rom 1:20). But how often have we thought about this statement from one of the psalmists: “Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Ps 111:2, emphasis added)? These words appear to be no less than an invitation to consider individual works made by God and to think about how a particular element of creation displays the character of God in some way. Perhaps this is a practice that some of us haven’t previously considered, and we may wonder if any Christian authors can guide us. In fact, there are—at least one past and one present.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), widely acknowledged as arguably America’s greatest theologian, devoted some of his writings to studying nature. He viewed it as a divine canvas displaying God's wisdom and beauty. To him, every element revealed spiritual truths. For example, he believed roses on thorns symbolized how true joy comes forth as a result of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Another creature that Edwards found to be a good representation of Christ’s redemptive death was the silkworm. In the same way that this worm dies and brings forth the material from which beautiful clothing is made, so “Christ became a worm for our sakes, and by his death finished that righteousness with which believers are clothed, and thereby procured that we should be clothed with robes of glory.”¹

British pastor and writer Andrew Wilson is someone in our day who has reflected much on how created things reveal glimpses of God, especially in his 2021 book “God of All Things”². It’s worthwhile to highlight two particular creations he gives attention to, for they are what we will always encounter while exploring Alberta’s west. First, Wilson talks about stones as symbols of the steadfastness of God, which stand in sharp contrast to the shifting sands of modern ideologies. He also ties them to the redemption of Christ, explaining the significance of Jesus as the rejected cornerstone (Ps 118:22). Additionally, Wilson mentions Christ’s triumphant resurrection through the rolling away of the tombstone.³ Another significant natural element discussed by Wilson is mountains. He speaks of how they represent divine covenants, since they served as sites of revelation and God’s transcendent authority. Not only did they do so in the days of Noah, Abraham and Moses (recall, especially, Mt. Sinai), but also at the time of our Lord Jesus. Remember where his transfiguration took place, and his “sermon on the mount”.⁴  In this way, the Rockies can remind us of God’s covenant promises to His people, and his steadfast love towards us. 

So Edwards, Wilson, and many other Christian thinkers from the past and present can help us cultivate a desire to see God “through” the various works He has made. And not only will we be more greatly enriched by the times we spend outdoors, but also be left amazed and more drawn to worship the “God of all things”. 

Prioritizing God’s Word, People, and Place

There is yet another way to enjoy God through nature, though at first, it may seem counterintuitive to the whole idea: giving priority to the place where God has revealed far more of Himself than He has done in nature.

Undoubtedly, in part because of the busy schedules they have throughout their week, many professing Christian families may opt to head to the mountains during the very time that their churches meet: Sunday mornings. By doing so, however, they are not only disregarding the divine injunction from the Book of Hebrews—which is “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10: 24-25), but they are actually missing out on the most important ways God speaks to us: through His Written Word, His Spirit and His people. 

There’s a reason why Psalm 19—though it begins by extolling God’s work in nature (vv. 1-6)—emphasizes the precious character of His written words (vv. 7-11). God’s glory in creation, as spectacular and necessary as it is, can’t “revive the soul”, “make wise the simple”, or “enlighten the eyes” like God’s written words can. After all, these words make the Living Word—Christ—central in all they speak of (John 5:39-40, Luke 24:17-27). He is God’s ultimate and final revelation (Heb 1:1-3). For this reason, God’s people need to hear God’s Word regularly, proclaimed through God’s appointed pastors (Eph 4:11-13; Heb 13:17).

What’s more, in the assembly of God’s people we find the Holy Spirit—our counselor and comforter (John 14:16-17, 26) and source of power (Rom 8:13; 15:13), who dwells in all believers (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19-20) and is particularly present when they assemble together (1 Cor 14:24-25). Also, in a church gathering, the Spirit makes us understand what God is saying to us through His Word (1 Cor 2:12).

Finally, in God’s assembly, we find God’s people. All of creation reveals God’s glory, but it is humanity that He has “made in His image” (Gen 1:27). Undoubtedly, as surely as we are all sinners, we can—and do—greatly fall short of what we desire from one another. Even godly servants of Christ like Euodia and Syntyche needed to be “entreated” by the Apostle Paul to agree with each other (Phil 4:2-3). But as surely as God has intended us to represent the “body” of Christ to the heavenly places (Eph 3:8-10) and the world (John 13:34-35), we need each other (1 Cor 12:12-26).

Whenever we meet together, our singular goal is to “let no corrupting talk” come out of our mouths, “but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29). And we can be sure that in His own good time, God will use our brothers and sisters to refresh us, sustain us and give us joy, just as He used the church in Paul’s life (1 Thess 2:19-20; Phil 4:14-19). Even if we may suffer through our disappointments with each other, we need to entrust ourselves to God’s perfectly-timed faithfulness and continue to do good (1 Pet 4:19; 5:10).

A More Glorious Summit

How, then, can we enjoy God in nature by putting a priority on seeking Him in the local church? Simply by putting the former practice in its proper place. Nature displays the glory of God, but how much more does His gathered church—the body of the perfect Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5-6)! Let us therefore enjoy creation at appropriate times, finding rest for our souls in the beauty of this province. But let us learn to treasure even more our life together in the local church, as we meet the Living Word through the Written Word.

1 - The Works of Jonathan Edwards 11, 71.

2 - Andrew Wilson, God of All Things (Zondervan, 2021).

3 - Wilson, God of All Things, pp.51-56

4 - Wilson, God of All Things, pp.71-77