Introduction
In this Newsletter, the responsibility of the believer in caring for the creation is discussed. God has tasked humankind to care for His environment, the creation. This leads us on to the concept of environmental justice which has been defined by the United States Environmental Agency as the fair treatment and meaningful participation of all people irrespective of their race, color, national origin, or income regarding the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, and regulations as well as policies.
Man: The Custodian of God´s Creation
Our duty to care for the environment is built on the premise that the heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S, but the earth has been given to the human beings (Psa 115:16). After God had created the environment, He saw it prudent to make man in His own image so that they would have control over the arboreal, terrestrial and aquatic habitats. God created them and blessed them, and commanded that they multiply, replenish the earth and to subdue it, as well as to have dominion over his creation (Gen 1:26-28). God, therefore, placed them in the garden of Eden to dress and to keep it (Gen 2:15).
The command to dress the garden involve putting it in good order and to till or cultivate it. To keep the garden of Eden, on the other hand, includes having custody of it for its security and preservation from falling or from danger, to protect or guard and to sustain it (Webster).
God put the ability to watch over the environment in man for they were specially endowed with glory. and honor to do so. This makes David write “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas” (Psa 8:4-8 KJV).
Considering the strength and the ability of Angels, man, being a little lower than them, tells of man´s might and power to protect and nurture God´s creation. Man is thus fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa 139:14). In fact, the devil is not in control of God´s creation. When the Bible refers to the devil as the prince of this world (Joh 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), it is not referring to the fact that the creation is in his control. It only meant that he is the prince of the unbelievers or the unbelieving world and that he governs their lives. It is read that “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2Co 4:3 KJV): In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2Co 4:4). Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:2). So, the devil rules over the unbelievers but not those who are God´s, neither his creation. Believers have been given the power which excels that of the devil (Luk 10:19). They only need to believe and act in faith.
The Expectation of the Creation
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Rom 8:18-22).
The above paragraph indicates that the creature (i.e. the environment) wails because it has been brought under bondage as a result of the activities of man. They also cry for deliverance from their current conditions. When human beings are punished for their evil deeds, the creation also suffers with them. For instance, when Adam and his wife sinned, the earth also received its share of punishment. There were no thorns on earth until man sinned and God cursed the land. It says “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Gen 3:18). The good news, however, is that Jesus Christ was made to wear the thorns on His head during his crucifixion (Joh 19:2). Thus, the sting of the curse on the land was removed to bring healing unto it (Joh 19:2). In the times of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, nature suffered with mankind (Gen 6:12-13, Gen 7: 18-24, Gen 19:24-25, ) and again, in the last days, creation would suffer with man (Psa 102:26; Isa 51:6; Mat 24:35).
The manifestation of the children of God is expected to bring relief to the creation. Christians should understand that the creation is relying on them for their survival. We should awake from our slumber and stand for the course of the creation. The creation groans or wails for the pains they have been subjected to. Believers´ silence to the degradation of the environment and extinction of some species of organisms is a disappointment to creation. The physical and biological environment must be protected by believers by supporting the principles of environmental justice and through advocacy.
The Language of Creation
When Paul writes that the nature groans, it is very difficult to comprehend how they do so. Questions that arise from the above statement include; does God understand what it means for the nature to groan? Does God hear the voices of the creation? do arise. The following passage of the Bible tells more about the voices of nature:
“Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness, shall he judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psa 98:7-9). God hears the cries of His creation so man should not cause much pain to them by their abuse and indiscriminate use of them.
Conclusion
Christians must get involved in the care of the creation or environment as that forms part of their divine mandate on earth. God created man to nurture, dress and keep the environment and that assignment is still valid.
Prayer: Our Living God and our Creator, may you give us the heart to show much concern for your creation so that we shall judiciously keep and dress them according to your word. In Jesus´ mighty name we pray. AMEN!