The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear (reverence) Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11: 18, NRSV, emphasis provided).
Gracious God, when we contemplate our environment, we are amazed at how little we know about the thought that was put into creating our world, and how important it is for us to think of nature as a “whole.” As we sit at Your feet today, please help us to be willing to learn more, that we may become more responsible stewards of our environment. Please forgive us for what we have done, or, failed to do, in the past, because of a lack of knowledge. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
I love nature. When I think of how much of the beauty of nature has been sacrificed, and yet how much beauty still remain after thousands of years, since the entrance of sin into our world; I am awestruck. Three major thoughts emerge: How much God loves us! How beautiful earth must have been when it first came forth from the hand of the Creator! Surely, God is a God of beauty! My response usually is, “How can I become a better steward of my environment?”
This response has nothing to do with fear because of the judgment that has been foretold against those who destroy the earth. It is all about love. I love the Creator; and I cherish every gift He has given to us, the creatures of His hand. I believe that if there is a group of people who must have a voice in speaking out against the abuse of nature, it should be Christians! We read from the Word of God: “For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other’ ” (Isaiah 45: 18, NKJV).
He formed it “to be inhabited.” Dare we make it uninhabitable, by our neglect, and/or abuse? Even if I knew, for a certainty, that Jesus was coming back for His people tomorrow; it would be my duty today, to save energy, to take care of the water supply, and, to preserve, in whatever way I could, what was left of the ozone layer. If, for no other reason, because of my love and reverence for the Creator! Added to that fact, is the reality that, as nature is affected, other components of our world, are also affected. “All too often corporations and local residents have very little direct interaction, despite sharing many common interests. The WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) Corporate Lands for Learning Program, however, invites local learners of all ages to engage with corporations in conservation activities. In so doing, the progrm fosters a clear understanding ‘of the interdependence of ecology, economics and social structures in both urban and rural structures,’ according to the WHC” (Alliance Landfill: An Educational and Environmental Asset, January 29, 2008, emphasis provided).
Scripture informs us that “. . . the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8: 21-23, NRSV, emphasis provided). Praise God, there is hope!
There is a great day of deliverance coming! God has heard the groaning of His people. He has heard the groaning of His creation, and He is coming back to set us free. God grant, that, at His coming, He may be able to say to us, ” ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord’ ” (Matthew 25: 21).