The 50th anniversary of Earth Day was this week. (4/27/2020). Let’s have a biblical view of the earth not a secular one. The following are some bullet point thoughts.
What does the Bible say about the earth?
1. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1).
He created it and established it. Therefore he owns it. It belongs to him.
2. Creation declares God’s glory (Psalm 19:1).
A being who can make the heavens and the intricacies of creation is very great. This is a cool video.
3. Creation declares to everyone there is a God (Romans 1:20).
4. Creation is actively sustained by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3).
5. The Father is so involved in his creation that not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from his will (Matthew 10:29).
He actively causes rain to fall on the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45).
6. Creation causes the righteous to praise God (Psalm 148).
An aspect of godliness is delighting in the beauty and diversity of our creator. We sense something different about our creator when we are in nature.
7. Creation causes men and women to remember how big God is and how small they are (Job 40:6-42:6).
8. Creation itself praises its Creator (Psalm 148).
9. There is much to discover in creation that the Lord has hidden.
It is the glory of God to conceal a things but the glory of kings to search things out (Proverbs 25:2).
10. Creation is under a curse, broken, and groaning (Genesis 3:19, Romans 8:20).
It is profoundly broken. Herein is the paradox. Profoundly beautiful and profoundly broken.
11. Creation will be redeemed when Jesus returns (Romans 8:21).
The current earth will be completely redone. But we will live on a New Earth. We will drink from the fruit of the vine with our Savior. We will not live disembodied existences. We will have bodies but they will be resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15).
12. We take our view of creation from the Creator.
NonChristian viewpoints are only helpful as they give us new insight into a biblical view. They are able to do that because they are both made in his image and fallen.
13. The Creator turned over care and development of his creation to men and women.
He gave them “dominion” (rulership) over creation (Genesis 1:26). We are to rule this world.
14. He put them in the garden “to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15).
Work it carries the idea of cultivating it. Keep it carries the idea of guarding it and protecting it from evil.
15. Men and women were meant to fill the earth.
He commands men and women to be fruitful in having children and fill the earth. (Genesis 1:28). This means we don’t have to worry about overpopulation.
16. The earth was made for men and women.
We are not intruders. This was made for us.
17. Men and women were told them to subdue it and have dominion over it.
That also means that people are not just consumers but creators and problem solvers. There have been predictions of shortages from overpopulation since Thomas Malthus from the early 1800s. Men and women find solutions.
18. Men and women sinfully exchange worship of the Creator for worship of creatures and even creation (Romans 1:25).
19. Neither worship of nature nor selfishly exploiting nor indifference to nature honor God the Creator.
20. Men and women, as God’s highest creation, have been given rulership over the earth.
They should thoughtfully subdue it, develop it, and rule it. They should not worship creation nor mindlessly exploit it. They should not selfishly abuse it.
21. Using the earth’s resources to create wealth is not evil, but one way that we cultivate the earth for love of fellow human being.
22. Mankind is the only part of creation that is eternal.
Men and women are the high point to rule in place of the Creator (Psalm 8). Their needs come before a pristine earth.
