Why we Appreciate Beauty

We admire things in nature such as a sunset, galloping horses, gorgeous fishes, and much more. Many things inspire a sense of awe — which is something animals are incapable of having. Some folks find beauty in the orderliness and intricacies of mathematics.

There are several reasons that we appreciate beauty. One is that it is a gift of our Creator, who gave us many things to help us survive and thrive. Not only survive, but to make our journeys more peasant. Creation itself testifies of God (Rom. 1:18).

Forest Morning, RGBStock / Alex Bruda

It may surprise some people, but this is a wrecked world! That's right, it's beauty before the Genesis Flood is probably beyond imagining. Even so, God made it so that even after the devastation of the Flood, the world would still be filled with tremendous beauty. Such splendor is a part of God's own nature, and we are created in his image, so we appreciate it as well.

Have you ever wondered why a sunset on a beach is captivating, snowcapped mountains are breathtaking, and a valley filled with wildflowers is enchanting?

Scripture, as a whole, teaches that God brought the universe and everything in it into existence to magnify His own glory. The creation of all these things serves as a testament to His glory, love, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, and goodness (see Psalm 8:1; 19:1; 50:6; 89:5, among other verses). Jonathan Edwards expressed it this way:

Continue reading by going to "The Beauty of Creation: Created for God’s Own Glory."