Throughout the Bible, the earth is described as a place of beauty, wonder, and significance, and is seen as a reflection of God’s power and wisdom. The very first sentence of the Bible introduces the heavens and the earth as the beginning of God’s creation:
Genesis 1:1
It was from the earth that God brought fourth every plant, herb, tree and creature. When God created the sun and the moon, their purpose was to “give light upon the earth” Genesis 1:5.
The earth, our home
The story of Creation begins with the story of the earth, which was to be a home for God’s creation. When God finished creating this home, giving it the plants, the creatures, and the lights of the heavens, God “saw that it was good” Genesis 1:25.
When God finished creating the heavens and the earth in all its beauty, He then chose to create humanity and give to them this great gift:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…”
Genesis 1:26-31
Our Responsibility
Humanity was given the responsibility to care for and steward the earth for future generations. This includes being good stewards of the natural environment, loving each other, and promoting love and peace.
Earth and Sin
When Satan brought sin to earth and man chose it over God, destruction and death followed. “… God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). When man began harm each other in this home that God has created, we read that this “grieved Him [God] at His heart” (Genesis 6:6). When man chose sin, God created a way out for those who choose His way. He sent His Son as a sacrifice to free us from our sin.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
In the greatest manifestation of Love this universe has seen, God created a way for us to choose Him over sin. He gave us His law to protect us from sin and lead us to this LOVE. Afterall, God’s law was based on LOVE. Christ said:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40
The outcome of sin
The earth will be a better place if we love. The earth has seen nothing but destruction when Satan introduced sin to man, and man chose it over God. However, there will be a day when God will create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1) for those that chose Him over sin. As sin destroyed the earth, God will also end those that caused harm to both humanity and the earth (Revelation 11:18).
Choose Life
If we can just see that sin causes nothing but destruction, hate, and contempt towards God’s creation, we can choose Christ who gives us life instead. His will is for us to love Him and each other so that He can once again create a new heaven and a new earth for us and save us from the devil who has brought us nothing buy evil, sadness, and loss.
Will you welcome Christ in your heart today and let Him fill your heart with His love? If your answer is yes, He is ready and waiting. Invite Him in your heart today. You can say a simple prayer like this:
My Father in Heaven. I know I am a sinner. I know you can save me from my sin. Please wash my heart now and fill it with your Love. Help me to share this Love with others. In Jesus name we are saved.
Amen
