Why should we care? Our Environment

Genesis 1:21  – So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

 

I recently watched a documentary called “Mission Blue” on Netflix. The documentary chronicled the life of Dr. Sylvia Earle, a prized oceanographer. The feature gave a detailed look at her life studying and now advocating the protection of our oceans and marine life.

As I watched this movie, highlighting scenes of underwater video, I couldn’t help but be taken back by God’s creation. The incredible panoramas of fish of all shapes and sizes and coral reefs with colors that could mesmerize your eyes, they were spectacular.

As the documentary ran to a close it highlighted the damage man has done over the last five or six decades. How over 50% of our world’s coral reefs are now gone, and gave a list of fish almost existent from over- fishing.

I must tell you after watching that I had two immediate knee-jerk reactions. 1) A conviction over the way I personally treated something so beautiful that God had created and 2) a sense of guilt for even giving a rat’s tail about the environment at all.

“I know who made the environment and he’s coming back and going to burn it all up. So yes, I drive an SUV.” ~Mark Driscoll

Now you may have read this and asked yourself why I would say that. You see, since my younger youth I have been brought up in Christian circles to believe the exact sentiment highlighted in the quote above from Mark Driscoll.  That caring for things like science, global warming, and animal rights were “hippie” causes that didn’t matter to the “Christian.”

Colossians 1:16-17 – For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Why should we care? Because He cares…

The Bible is painted with scriptures highlighting the beauty and importance of God’s creation and how it is “created by him and for him.” Now if God has created this earth for his enjoyment, why are we so quick to pass it off as a non-essential and neglect and mistreat it?

Now I am not here to give you an itemized list of the five recycling practices you need to implement nor am I here to be an example of someone who is doing all the right things in this area. What I am here to do is to try and start the conversation because I’m doing the same with myself.

My own personal goal is to continue to become more and more Christ-like, which entails caring about the things HE cares about. If He’s created the birds of the air, the beasts of the fields and the fish of sea I believe it’s my/our job to do what I can to preserve that for HIS glory.

If you’re someone who has already begun taking strides in preserving our planet, what are some tips that can help us get started?

Graeme Wilson – Director of Marketing at America’s Keswick

www.mission-blu.org

Daily Bible Reading: Esther 4-6

Think About This: I cannot imagine a much greater misfortune for a man (not to say a clergyman) than not to know, or knowing, not to minister to, any of the poor. George MacDonald

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil … Hebrews 6:19