Devotional -

The Christian and the Environment ( 27 October )

In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. Then God commanded, "Let there be light"-and light appeared. God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness, and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came-that was the first day. Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places"-and it was done. So God made a dome, and it separated the water under it from the water above it. He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came-that was the second day. Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"-and it was done. He named the land "Earth," and the water which had come together he named "Sea." And God was pleased with what he saw. Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"-and it was done. So the earth produced all kinds of plants, and God was pleased with what he saw.
Genesis 1:1-12

World environment day. The assembling of the industrial countries seekingto find a solution forglobal warming. The UN Environmental Management groups.... All of these are groups and initiatives we often hear of in the media. Scientists, associations, and countries are discussing environmental issues, attempting to find solutions for the ever-increasing problems plaguing our environment. Their only goal is to make this planet suitable for human beings to live on. Have you ever heard a sermon that addressed this topic?

As I consider the portrait of the universe depicted in (Genesis 1), I have to ask myself, Do not we as Christians have some responsibility here?

These few verses seem to make the answer clear. Yes, it is our responsibility, as Christians who worship God, as children of God. According to (Genesis 1:28), "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it," it is the responsibility of God's children to care for the work of their Father's hands. God liked what he created. Every time he created something, the Bible says, "God was pleased with what he saw." We should enjoy all that our God created; even more so, we should continually work to maintain the creation in the "good" state in which God made it.

Our technological development, despite its "progress," is destroying the amazing world God made for his and our enjoyment. God did not create the heavens and put ahole in the ozone layer; we have done that with our own hands. The way we abuse the environment today will be for our destruction tomorrow. Let us start this day to work to protect God's good creation, first addressing ourselves, then others. In doing so, we fulfill our role as children of God.

- 27 OCTOBER -