Everything Beautiful

Botanists know that shortening daylight time and falling night-time temperatures trigger biochemical reactions in deciduous trees and shrubs, including the shutting down of photosynthesis and reduction in the green pigment called chlorophyll. This allows other compounds, such as yellow flavanols, orange carotenoids, and red to purple anthocyanins, to become more prominent. Does all this sound a bit too complicated? You don’t have to be a botanist, or a scientist at all, to appreciate the glorious autumn colors that these processes produce and to wonder at our amazing Creator God, who not only conceived this complex biochemistry but also made it beautiful! People interested in botany also know that the principal purpose of flowers is reproduction —their colors and shapes facilitate pollination, seed growth, and seed dispersal.

Their bright hues and sweet fragrances attract pollinators, such as certain insects and birds. But again, it is awe-inspiring that our Creator has not only made such intricate living organisms and the biological processes that sustain them but also made them beautiful. Flowers are a delight to our senses in all their incredible variety. And that’s not all. Flowers speak to our emotions as well.

Flowers often form an important element of special occasions, whether joyful celebrations or times of mourning, and serve as expressions of love and affection. Fittingly, they may also be used to enhance our worship experience.

The beauties of creation are indeed wonderful, but the true wonder is how much God cares for each one of us. Jesus used flowers to illustrate God’s sustaining love. He gently chided His listeners, “If your heavenly Father takes the trouble to make even the common and short-lived wildflowers beautiful, how much more attention will He give to the needs of His children?” (see Matthew 6:28–31).

Despite this old world being marred by sin, there is still so much beauty to enjoy that I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us when we reach our heavenly home, where His creativity will be perfectly displayed. I’m especially keen to see His marvelous tree —the tree of life— with its healing leaves. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, NIV).

Jennifer M. Baldwin