Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

This amazing flower, Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum) can only be seen blooming at night. By dawn the flowers have wilted. Native from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, they are not only nocturnal but very fragrant. Unlike the Night-Blooming Cereus, they grow on the surface of other plants rather than in the ground. This “extra-terrestrial” gets its moisture and nutrients from its environment instead of from the ground. Her beauty has its own special prescribed time, designated by its Creator.

Today’s verse teaches that the Source of beauty is God Himself. King David exclaimed that all he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.(Psalm 27:4) Not only is God Himself beautiful but He creates beauty as a prompt to turn our eyes towards Him. All of His intricate amazing creation points to His beauty. And part of that creation is the desire for eternity, placed in the human heart by God Himself.

There is so much beauty in my life and I am thankful. But unfortunately sin and its consequences create what is ugly as well. How amazing to know that our Creator continues to create, redeeming and making what was unsightly into something beautiful! He exchanges beauty for ashes and joy for sorrow. (Isaiah 61:3). I can count on His promise and His timing. He will make all things beautiful in His time and I can look forward to an eternity where that beauty will never fade and last forever!

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful hope!