It is amazing to see the way that some people will look at the world and come up with the conclusion that there was not a great mind behind it all. Creation time and time again points to something outside of itself as its cause. All there is cannot be explained within nature itself. This is the naturalistic/atheistic position that finds no place in creation.
Rather, nature itself points to a supernatural cause.
When speaking of the supernatural, what is being referred to is something outside of nature or the laws of nature. This refers to something outside of the earth, our galaxy, and our solar system. It speaks of something outside of outer space entirely.
However, the naturalist would try to explain everything within that box or framework (the borders of outer space being the edges of the box). Within this box, we have the stars and the planets and the people and the animals and so forth. According to the naturalist, everything finds its explanation here; nothing is thought to be outside of it.
This causes great tension between these competing belief systems as we seemingly attempt to call others to join us. However, God has not been caught off guard, nor is He quick to return to the earth to make things right, but rather Peter tells us He exercises patience, desiring that people would repent before the Judgment (2 Pet. 3:9).
He patiently waits for just the right time and in the most humble of ways reveals Himself to us.
Psalm 22
Psalm 22 is full of rich prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. In it, we see our Savior time and time again.
• Jesus is seen as our forsaken Savior in Psalm 22:1, and we find its fulfillment in Matthew 27:46.
• Jesus in seen as mocked in Psalm 22:7-8, and we find it’s fulfillment in Matthew 27:43.
• Jesus is seen as having his strength drying up and his tongue sticking to his jaws in Psalm 22:15, and we find its fulfillment in John 19:28.
• Jesus is seen as crucified in Psalm 22:16, and we find its fulfillment in Mark 15:24.
• Jesus is seen as having his garments divided among people who cast lots for them in Psalm 22:18, and we find its fulfillment in Luke 23:34.
This psalm is full of cross-centered references. The Gospel message resounds within Psalm 22. However, it is proclaimed in a way within this psalm that is often overlooked. Careful attention to what is being said will yield great encouragement for the believer. It may just convince those who do not believe.
The crimson worm
In Psalm 22:6, we read of the way that Jesus would be deemed a worm and not a man. We can briskly read past this portion of Scripture, never really understanding the depths of what is being communicated to us. In Scripture, what you typically encounter when the word worm is being used is a reference to a maggot.
However, in Psalm 22 what is at stake is not a maggot, but rather a crimson worm.
The life of a crimson worm is a very telling life. This worm proclaims the Gospel to us, and God’s creation cries that the Savior has come. You see, as this worm begins to approach the end of its life, it will begin its search for a piece of wood. This crimson worm will then crawl up the piece of wood voluntarily. It recognizes that this wood is where it will spend its last days.
As it crawls up the piece of wood, it finds a spot for it to then be able to latch onto with its whole being. This worm almost literally becomes one with this piece of wood. It clings on so tightly that if we tried to pull it off, it would die in the process.
If that was not enough, this worm, as it is hanging on this piece of wood, begins to create offspring. As this creation occurs, it shields and protects its young as it clings to the wood.
Finally, at just the right time, the crimson worm dies. However, as it does, the worm stains its young with its own blood. This blood colors the worms for life, and they are forever crimson, a blood-stained red. These new creations begin to set out, and as they do, the crimson worm that hung on that piece of wood turns white like snow and falls to the earth.
In closing
Time and time again, God’s creation proclaims His name and existence. The Scriptures warn us that if humanity ceases to praise His name, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40).
God has created the earth and the universe in such a way that everything leads back to Him. Everything points His way. Nothing is left without a Godward focus. God delights in His children seeing Him in His creation and finding Him under every rock.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the way in which You created the earth. I thank You that Your creation reveals more of You to me. I thank You for the great story that You have told me in the life of the crimson worm. Jesus, I thank You for Your shed blood and the way that it covers me in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.