I do think we have a responsibility to care for the environment — we ought to care for every resource God has provided for us. But that, in fact, has very little to do with the environmental movement. The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever. But we know that isn’t in God’s plan.
The earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet. It is, frankly, a disposable planet—it is going to have a very short life. It’s been around six thousand years or so—that’s all—and it may last a few thousand more. And then the Lord is going to destroy it.
I’ve have often preached that if environmentalists think humanity is wrecking the planet, wait until they see what Jesus does to it. Peter says God is going to literally turn it in on itself in an atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence (2 Peter 3:7-13).
This earth was never ever intended to be a permanent planet—it is not eternal. We do not have to worry about it being around tens of thousands, or millions, of years from now because God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth. Understanding those things is important to holding in balance our freedom to use, and responsibility to maintain, the earth.
Just a footnote. Though this earth is our temporary home, we should take time to enjoy God’s beauty. Take care of your yard. Stop to smell the flowers. Enjoy the forests. God placed those rich resources on this planet for our comfort and His enjoyment. Let us be thankful to Him for that.
2 comments:
P. Tom,
I got a good laugh when reading your comment about what God has in store for this planet. As Christian’s we are lucky to know that things are going to get bad; really, really bad but it all turns out fine!
I do have another question for you; science tells us that the world is millions (or billions) of years old, the Bible tells us it is about 6000. How do you explain the difference in age? I firmly believe that God created the universe, thus explaining the first three minutes of creation which science can not explain (the God particle), but I am having trouble deciphering the difference in age. Fossils and thermo-aging seem to show that the world is much older than the Bible states. Other than bluntly stating that science is wrong, how should I look at the age discrepancy?
Thank you so very much for your kind words and Biblical response.
In Him,
A
I'm a theologian and a pastor so I approach this from that point of view--I take the Bible at its word.
Now from the scientific standpoint, I yield to noted Christian scientists such as Philip Johnson (UC Berekley) who has long suggested that God created an aged earth. Man was created fully grown and mature, the same with woman. Why not the earth? One of my favorite websites is http://www.ldolphin.org/URLres.shtml
There you will find an abundance of creation information at your fingertips. Give it a try.
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