Hope for the Earth

At the right time He will make all things new. He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth where evil cannot prevail any more

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The earth is the Lord's, with all that is in it, the world and those who live there. (Psalm 24:1)

Today it is clear that all is not well with the earth. Rising global temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, droughts, floods, soil erosion, desertification, tornadoes, tsunamis and earthquakes; all are on the increase. Most would agree that 'climate change' is scientifically proven, but opinions vary over the reasons, and even more so over the solutions. The Christian voice is also divided between those who point to the biblical passages that predict the planet's inevitable doom, and those with eco-credentials who aim to fix the issues.

The first verse of Psalm 24 points to a dynamic three-way relationship - 

God : the earth/land (eretz) : people/dwellers

       God

Man Land

It was always God's intention for the humans he created to occupy the land he created. When this triangular relationship functions all is well:

'Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.' (Micah 4:4)

But when it breaks down the consequences are catastrophic to both land and to its dwellers. Leviticus chapter 26 and Deuteronomy chapter 28 make it clear that if the people obey God's rules they will dwell and prosper in the land given to them, but if they do not obey they will be cast out:

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'Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book,  and the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as they are this day.’ (Deuteronomy 29:27-28)

The principle is the same today. Man in his arrogance thinks he owns the land, to do as his greed leads, exploiting and abusing it. Soil becomes impoverished while factory-farmed food results in hunger in one place and obesity in another. Our rivers run brown with the soil that should be growing healthy, nutrient-dense food, and wildlife cycles get broken to the point of extinction.

'There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land...
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.' (Hosea 4:2-3)

According to the Bible the principal reason for the upset of nature, as well as the malfunction of food production, is the lack of knowledge of the Creator. Without this primary relationship all attempts to fix the environment and restore productive soils will be just a sticking plaster on a deep wound.  

The Old Testament gives us clear reasons for the state we are in, while the New Testament gives us the way back through our Messaiah Jesus, the Architect of the universe and Saviour of both people and planet. He is Lord of all; everything is from Him, to Him and for Him. (Romans 11:36) We care for the earth, not because it is ours but because it belongs to Jesus. One day He will return to that which he made and owns, to rule and reign whether humanity approves or not.

The good news for the cosmos is that one day Jesus will return. At the right time He will make all things new. He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth where evil cannot prevail any more. (Rev 21-22) There will be a restored relationship between the Lord, the land and the laity. There will be peace even amongst the animals, and plants will grow as they should. (Isaiah 65). As a farmer I look forward to one day cultivating the unspoiled soil in a creation uncontaminated by today's sinfulness.

Author: John Plumb

May God bless and enrich your life

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