The natural world is full of marvels, from tall mountains to huge forests, to waterfalls, to winter wonderlands like Ivara, here in northern Finland. Our Earth is full of breathtaking natural wonders. These beautiful natural scenes bring balance to our lives and nourishment to our souls.

We are the only creatures on Earth that can be moved to tears by a sunset, that marvel at the stars at night, that feel awe and humility at the spectacular beauty, power, and magnificence of the natural world. Wonder defines us as human beings! 

One man has devoted his life to capturing this world of wonders. The beauty and power of the natural world. He’s discovered that the real essence of wonder is not in the thing itself, but in the fact that the more you look for wonder in the world, the more the wonder of the world becomes a part of you, and answers some of life’s biggest questions. 

Wonder is more than just a good feeling. It’s a seed from which our greatest treasure and understanding grows. So let’s join [German filmmaker] Henry Stober on a journey through the wonders of the natural world. Let’s explore, dream, and feed our souls. And maybe, just maybe, as we search the wonders of nature, we may find answers to some of our biggest questions. 

WELCOME, HENRY STOBER

Gary Kent:  Henry, you have photographed and filmed many of the most beautiful and spectacular places in the world. How have the natural wonders of the world impacted you?

Henry Stober:  I was allowed to capture on film some of the most beautiful mountains, rivers, lakes, volcanoes, waterfalls, and much more. They have the power to enchant and amaze. They have left me with feelings of awe and humility. They’ve touched my heart and moved my soul. 

Actually, the beauty and power of the natural world can leave you feeling quite insignificant and humble. It makes me wonder where it all came from. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, and considering the various possibilities. Where did it all come from, and where do I as a human fit into all of this? 

And I’ve actually tried to bring it all together and express it in my own way. Let me share it with you!

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” [Hebrews 11: 1, 3]

THE CREATION ACCOUNT

In the beginning was the word.  And the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him. And apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. [John 1:1-3]

THE FIRST DAY

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.

Now the Earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light.

God saw that the light was good. And he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness he called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.

THE SECOND DAY

And God said… “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse ‘sky.’ There was evening, and there was morning – the second day.

THE THIRD DAY

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place… And let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground ‘land’, and the gathered waters he called ‘seas’. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 

The land produced vegetation, plants bearing seed according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the third day. 

THE FOURTH DAY

And God said,  “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. And let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years. And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the Earth.” And it was so. 

God made two great lights. The greater light to govern the day. And the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give a light on the Earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day. 

THE FIFTH DAY

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures… And let birds fly above the Earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind, and God saw that it was good. 

God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number, and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the Earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the fifth day. 

THE SIXTH DAY

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds. Livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And the man became a living being. Then God said, “Let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. Over the livestock, over all the Earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him. Male and female, he created them. And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the Earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole Earth, and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the Earth, and all the birds of the air, and all the creatures that move on the ground. Everything that has the breath of life in it. I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. 

THE SEVENTH DAY

Thus, the heavens and the Earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day, God completed his work, which he had done. And he rested on the seventh day from all his work, which he had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it, he rested from all his work, which God had created and made.

 “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work. Neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maid servant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.” For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the Earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day and made it whole.

SPECIAL OFFER

Gary Kent: If you’d like to know more about this God of wonders, who not only has the power to create the wonders of the natural world, but also the love and compassion to bring peace and happiness into our lives, then I’d like to recommend the free gift we have for all our Incredible Journey viewers today. 

It’s the booklet, The Fingerprints of God. This booklet is our gift to you, and is absolutely free. I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. So make the most of this wonderful opportunity to receive the gift we have for you today.

[Narrator] Phone or text us at 0436-333-555 in Australia, or 020-422-2042 in New Zealand, or visit our website, TiJ.tv to request today’s free offer and we’ll send it to you totally free of charge and with no obligation. Write to us at GPO Box 274, Sydney, New South Wales, 2001 Australia, or PO Box 76673 Manukau, Auckland, 2241 New Zealand. Don’t delay, call or text us now.

CLOSING PRAYER

Be sure to join us again next week, when we’ll share another of life’s journeys together. Until then, let’s ask God to lead us to find real meaning and purpose in our lives, and inner peace and lasting happiness. Let’s pray. 

Dear heavenly father and creator God, thank you for the wonders of the natural world that you have provided for us. They leave us in awe and wonder. They remind us that you are a powerful God, but they also tell us that you are a loving God, who cares about us. Please grant us the inner peace and happiness that comes from knowing that you are our creator and that you are in charge of our lives, and that you will care for us. Please bless us now, we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.