Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 4 – The Environment

An article by Frank    No Comments

In the lead up to Easter we will be putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions will also be available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and will be played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

The debate about Climate Change is a hot one and can sadly serve to distract us from the very real call we have to care for this amazing creation God has gifted to us.

Today, as we prepare our hearts for Easter, let’s turn our eyes to the natural world around us, the world that flows out of God’s creativity; this world that has been scarred by our fallen pursuits.

In Genesis God gives us the responsibility to care for what he has created, that instruction has never been revoked.

Right throughout the Bible, land is viewed as a thing that humanity exists in relationship with. When humanity is acting as it should, the Bible paints a picture of harmony between us and the land as in Leviticus 26:3-6. On the contrary, when humanity is acting out of step towards the environment, it becomes a hostile entity as seen in the story of Genesis 3 and the call of Leviticus 26:38.

Our waterways are polluted, in many parts of the world land is drying up, our air in urban centers is often unhealthy, landfills grow at enormous rates every day.

When the environment is abused it is humanity that suffers the consequences and all too often it is those with the least access to capital that shoulder the brunt of those consequences while the rest of us expend resources to insulate ourselves. Can we be different?

Let’s open our eyes to see the impact our lives have on the environment. Why not take up the challenge of producing less household rubbish. Plan to purchase differently and live differently so less rubbish comes out of your house for landfills. What about using less water? Are there areas of our lives where we could improve our care for the natural world around us?

Pray

Jesus, help us to be good caretakers of the world you have gifted to us. Help us to find ways to live a life that better reflects your heart for your creation.

Amen