Creation A Witness To The Wonder Of God by Mark D. Futato

Mark David Futato sets the pericope for the study, to observe and interpret the self-exhibition of God's perfections, through the teaching of Psalm 19. He seeks to improve our understanding in the difference between general and special revelation: 'The revelation in creation and the revelation in the Bible both need to be interpreted, but the revelation in the Bible takes precedence in at least two ways.' p 19 The status accorded scriptural revelation then permits us to interpret revelation in the creation objectively. Futato further provides a compelling foundation for another presupposition: that of the categorical Creator/creature distinction: 'People see the glory of God in creation, but then they make the fundamental mistake of failing to distinguish the Creator from the creation.' p 15 A proper view of natural revelation needs to be maintained to uphold the 1st perfection, God's glory in His creation, with Futato presenting clarification on this fact through an exegesis of Romans 1.

Futato unfolds the 2nd attribute, God's power 'exerted in creation and providence in His bringing the universe into existence and in His continual sustaining of the creation.' p 24 Daily God's creation manifests His absolute power and powerfully witnesses to His creatures. As to forces of nature Futato humbly submits, 'When we experience a certain power, we are to say, 'That power belongs to the Lord'.' p 30 We are reminded that it is the pre-existent Son who mediated and sustains the creation by the word of His power. 'By universal consent the furnishing of life and light to the world belongs to the very essence of the Logos-task.' Geerhardus Vos, Redemptive History & Biblical Interpretation ed. Richard Gaffin Jr p 63 As was the case with the first attribute, Futato moves his apologetic from general to special revelation, presenting the resurrection of our Lord as a display of God's might in creation.

Futato urges that we become conversant with the 3rd perfection of God, His wisdom. 'This theme runs throughout the Scriptures: God used His infinite wisdom to create the world. The Scriptures teach what our experience confirms: creation bears witness to the wisdom of God.' p 44 A reverential awe for our Creator whose dominion encompasses the whole universe serves as a stimulus for adoration of God's grace as Scripture's testimony to His provision and preservation is abundant. Says Futato, 'God's providence is His wise care and control of everything He has made, including human destiny.' p 49 Again, scriptural revelation teaches us that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge sufficient for such wise government.

Being able to see the unfailing love of God as the motive for creating and redeeming is best expressed in the words, "For God so loved the world". Drawing from the act of creation to the act of new creation, Futato includes a faithful exposition of Romans 8. Professor Futato gainfully employs Paul's speech at Athens to bring to our remembrance the startling revelation witnessed through the moving testimony of creation: 'Paul says to these people, who don't know the Bible, "God has not left Himself without testimony".' p 67 Even though general revelation is not efficient for salvation, this will not excuse the guilt of sinful men, who suppress the knowledge of God. He ends this strong message by calling attention to how God's provision in Christ ultimately not only reconciled us to God, but how Christ will mediate the reconciliation between the inanimate creation and the Creator. The whole of creation will once again worship the Creator.

God alone has absolute power over life and death. This concept is repeatedly brought to the fore in the OT, especially where God's intervention through His blessing or covenant curse is the cause. God manifests His judgment in the form of destruction so that people might repent and be saved. Speaking of His 5th perfection, His justice revealed in the natural realm, Futato furnishes us with the universal knowledge of death: 'Paul teaches us that..."Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death..." p 93 To this Futato strikes up an antithetical note of hope gained in the knowledge of our future bodily resurrection: 'His power is not against us. His power is for us, because He has loved us in His Son.' p 35

Finally, he reflects on the perfection of God's covenant with creation with respect to His faithfulness. God is infinitely more powerful, infinitely more wise than we. Seeing the OT fulfilled through the New, Futato provides us reason to believe that God is infinitely faithful, with Futato expressing care through biblical-theological associations to show how all of God's promises are fulfilled in Christ. Futato asks whether we share God's love for the creation. Have we not put man's power and wisdom at the center of creation for too long? Have we not closed ourselves off to an important part of God's revelation? The experiential preaching of Futato enlivens these attributes to an advanced degree of personal assurance. Throughout we are gently re-assured by Futato's confession which is strongly conditioned by an ever present element of praise for God.