Isn’t this a beautiful creation we live in? A beautiful creation that we can take none of the glory for because it wasn’t created by us, but by God. God created the earth, all the beautiful views belong to Him and it is the same for us. A friend once spoke of it as name tapes: God’s name tape is on everything – you, me, our characters and personalities, our talents, the world and everything in it – and day by day we are guilty of covering up that name tape with our own. We are guilty of taking the glory that doesn’t belong to us.
“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” – Deuteronomy 8: 17-18.
We have no rights. Only responsibilities. If we are given everything by God then we have been allowed to have our gifts, talents and resources by Him – and that ultimately means that we have a responsibility to manage these things well according to His desires and purpose.
In Genesis 1: 28-30 we are given the earth and everything in it, we are given governance over the earth and in that we are given our first commission – to look after His creation. Psalm 24: 1 reminds us that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”. There is a constant reminder in the Bible of how the earth belongs to God and that we are merely stewards of His creation. And creation’s calling is the same as ours – to bring glory to God in heaven.
What is interesting is the ongoing question of, ‘why does God allow all these bad things to happen?’ Well… I don’t know. What I do know is that there are many people who die or who suffer as a direct consequence of our own humanity. Why? Because there are so many things which we could do to help in those situations, before the bad things happen. Why do we allow people to continually live on flood plains in Bangladesh? Humanity is destroying this earth as quickly as it can. Green spaces disappear as we want bigger homes, more space for shops and/or office blocks etc. If we can’t be bothered to use less energy, because it is (apparently) easier and more convenient to turn the heating on than sit under blankets, then how can we blame God for the things which happen as a result?
For me, creation is beautiful. It is a gift from God. And it is our responsibility to be responsible and look after it.
“From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, creation’s revealing Your majesty. From the colours of fall to the fragrance of spring, every creature unique in the song that it sings, all exclaiming..
Indescribable, uncontainable, you placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God! All powerful, untameable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, You are amazing God!”
– Chris Tomlin, Indescribable
A New Mission 