Over the past couple weeks we have commemorated  “Earth Day” (established in 1970 on April 22nd) and “Arbor Day” (established in the early 1870’s in Nebraska City, NE as the last Friday in April).   Both have become global events demonstrating support for and protection of our environment. “Earth Day,” which is coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG, is now recognized in nearly 200 countries.  The official theme for 2023 was “Invest In Our Planet”–Be part of the ‘Green Revolution’.   People, of course are encouraged to send in money to help in the cause of educating about “Climate Change.”  

     While it is encouraging that we are reminded of our need to care for our planet on which we live (just as Adam and Eve were instructed by God in Gen. 1:28 and 2:15) , it is unfortunate that it has become a  political issue as many seem to think that man is solely in control of the future of our earthly home and will destroy it if we don’t “go green” according to their plan.  Well, I’ve got news for them. If they think we’ve messed it up, wait and see what God–who is actually the One in control–is going to do to it.  

     First of all, many don’t even acknowledge that He sent a universal flood that destroyed all life on earth except for Noah and his family and the animals which God sent to be with them on the Ark, and completely changed the terrain and climate on this planet on which we live that appears from space as just a “little blue dot.” Such skeptics are referred to in II Pet. 3:3-13 where we read: “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But this present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men…the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up…But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  

     God created the earth as a very special place for those He created in His own image (Gen. 1:26,27) to dwell.  We read in Isa. 45:18: “For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it. He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited….”   When you think of what it takes for life to exist on this “little blue dot” of ours and of the infiniteness of the universe around us,  it is far beyond our ability to comprehend. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand (the oceans contain 340 quintillion gallons of water), and marked off the heavens by the span (the known universe stretches over 30 billion light years or 200 sextillion miles), and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales (earth weighs 56 sextillion metric tons)…With whom did He consult and who gives Him understanding?…” (Isa. 40:12,14).  

     When God finally responded to Job after his horrendous ordeal, He said to Job, “Now gird up your loins like a man (put on your big-boy pants!) and I will ask you, and you instruct Me!  Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth!…Who set the measurements…or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk?…Or who enclosed the sea with doors…Have you ever commanded the morning and caused the dawn to know its place?…Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?…Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail? ” (Job. 38:3-22).

      Needless to say, our “little blue dot” is a very special, very amazing place and it is good that we have a day set aside to recognize our need to be good stewards and care for the earth, but I wish more so that we would acknowledge the Omnipotent, Omniscient God who created this dwelling place of ours, and that it is “He who has made us (and the earth for our home) and not we ourselves” (Psa. 100:3). We need to “stand in awe” (Psa. 4:4; 33:8; 119:61) as we consider the work of His hands. “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth” (Psa. 8:9).  Just as the word “create” (to make from nothing) really only applies to God, so the word “awesome” really only applies to our Creator and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory for ever. Amen” (Ro. 11:36). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave

P.S.  As amazing as our planet is inspite of the curse of sin placed upon it, imagine what the “new heavens and new earth” will be like “where righteousness dwells”!