Encountering God: Brazil

Brazil 

Home to the largest rainforest in the world, Brazil is a unique place. The Amazon rainforest is so unique and houses such a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals seen nowhere else on earth. Its mini ecosystems that go unnoticed but are so intricately connected are awe-inspiring. Take for example a simple Fig Tree. 

• There is only one species that pollinates this plant, the fig tree wasp and it lays its eggs inside the flower. 
• Monkeys and other mammals eat the figs from the branches. 
• Birds also spread the seeds throughout the forest. 
• Figs that fall to the ground are then eaten by forest floor dwelling creatures. 
• Since so many animals glean from this tree, it becomes a place predators come to to hunt. 

This is just the impact of one species of flora in a whole ecosystem of intricately designed rainforests. It reminds me of the verse in Colossians 1:16-17, that creation is by, for, and through Christ. Think about that for a moment. Creation was created by Jesus with his power, for his glory and honor and through his working power. Christ holds all things together, both the rainforests and our lives. When we have this view, our momentary problems seem to get a bit smaller. This doesn’t mean they hurt any less, but it does mean we know who is in control. A God who created and designed the entire universe is in control of everything that goes on. If we submit and surrender our lives to Him instead of trying to control every outcome we might find out His plans work a lot better and easier than ours.