What a Wonderful World
The lyrics popularized by Louis Armstrong say:
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world.
This is a well-known, well-loved song, but I prefer the words that we find in Genesis. We read in Genesis 1:31 that, “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good.”
When my family sat down for lunch two Sundays ago, Canaan, my 6-year-old son, said the prayer before we ate. He began that prayer saying, “Dear God, thank you for this wonderful world that you have made for us to live in.” Canaan was unaware of the events of the weekend, of the violence at a campaign rally that led national headlines, or the weekend of violence in our own area that ended the lives of many, including children his age, but with the gift of ignorant innocence he possesses as a child in a privileged household, he still sees something that you and I easily forget. My son still sees the world as a good creation of a good God.
Yes, humanity fell to sin not long after God created them, opening the world to the consequences of that sin, but we do not need to be tricked into thinking that God’s goodness is not still present in the world that he created for us to live in. There is still light, because He is the light, and his people are the light (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12; 1 John 1:5). There is still love because He is love, and his people are love (1 John 4:7-21). There is still good because God is good, and his people are good.
In words of wonder and worship, the Psalmist declared, “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.” As an inspired Paul described the fruit of the spirit, he said, “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS…”
I see the light of God, and the light of His people.
I see the love of God, and the love of His people.
I see the goodness of God, and the goodness of His people,
And I think to myself, and give praise to my God,
What a wonderful world.
- Josh