In his book Every Good Thing, Dr. David Jones shares four reasons that followers of Christ should be caring for creation. The one that resonated with me the most was:
“We care for creation because it reveals God’s character.”
Dr. Jones goes on to write:
“We should also be motivated to engage with and care for creation knowing that, in so doing, we can gain knowledge of God. Indeed, God began to reveal himself to us in the context of creation and Scripture further testifies to the understanding of God available to us through the material world. Paul teaches that this knowledge can be “clearly perceived” since God made the world and those in it. Since all that God does reflects his character and communicates his essence, creation necessarily reveals its creator.”
Dr. Jones’ words reminded me of the children’s book, Are You My Mother?, as I pictured going outside, seeing a rock, and asking, “Is that you, God?” Something about sunrises and sunsets always make me say, “God!” but I had never considered God’s presence in all aspects of creation, all creatures great and small, all living things under the sun…even the sun itself. What a beautiful way to think.
If we embrace the mindset of creation revealing God’s character, then we do more than think differently; we live differently. We live at a time when environmental stewardship falls low on the list of priorities and is viewed as a chore, not a calling.
What would it be like if we instead saw caring for creation as something that allows us to participate with God in protecting and honoring the world God made?
As another Earth Day approaches on April 22, let’s begin to live differently. Let’s identify changes we can make so that future generations will have a planet full of beauty and wonder, one that shows them how amazing God is and how much God loves every bit of creation. From the tiniest organism to the vast cosmos above, let’s remember that the Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The heavens declare the glory of God, but won’t if we don’t become better stewards of all therein.
Check out MMFA’s latest Creation Stewardship resource, “Earth Day Everyday Practices” now available on our resource page. We also have Theology of the Earth (scripture about creation/creation care), Stewardship of Creation (statements from the Moravian Church in America), and Stewardship of Creation Activities for your ministry.
