Earth Day is a beautiful time to celebrate the conservation of our environment all around the world. Now that we may have more time on our hands thanks to stay-at-home orders, let’s get out and appreciate the very thing the Lord has entrusted to us and given us dominion over.
Job 12:7-10 says, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Our perfect Heavenly Father has created this intricate and vast earth for us to live, breathe, and stand in admiration of the beauty we are surrounded with every day. From the setting of the sun to the horizon each new day brings, He deserves all the praise.
We have such an incredible opportunity as Christians to be good stewards of the creation God has placed in our hands, yet we haven’t utilized our fullest potential. New Age environmentalists have promoted New Age doctrine and a “Mother Earth” mentality into their propaganda, and Christians have run in the opposite direction.
Yet, God created Adam and Eve, and by design their descendants, to have dominion over the Earth. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28
Christians who are in relationship with the Father through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have been entrusted with the stewardship of the planet. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
While I am trained as a scientist, I never questioned the sovereignty of God over all creation. If God is the creator of our environment, it is illogical as Christians not to honor and protect His creation.
For the last two years, I have served on a local oversight committee for funds raised to restore the Indian River Lagoon, a major waterway extending more than 2,200 miles through five Florida counties. Over the past four decades, human pollution has degraded the Lagoon until it finally reached the tipping point.
I am not sure where my fellow committee members stand spiritually, but I believe I am called to help restore God’s creation. My desire is to see sea grass beds restored to the Lagoon along with native clam and oyster beds. The mammals of the Lagoon–dolphins and manatees–deserve a clean, healthy habitat to live in and raise their offspring.
I want my children and grandchildren to be able to sail, to kayak, and to wind surf without the fear of falling into the water and contracting some dreaded disease. I believe God entrusted the care of this precious resource to me as his daughter and I want to be found faithful in my stewardship.
I challenge you this year to join with your family on April 22 to appreciate our beautiful world around us and take care of what’s around you. Here are just a few ways you can do your part:
- Take a bike ride instead of going for a drive
- Shop virtually
- Start a garden
- Go meatless one day a week
- Use energy-efficient lightbulbs
- Conserve your water- don’t pre-rinse dishes
- Refill your water cup- ditch the water bottles
- Donate to a local charity- don’t throw it away
- Cancel your paper bank statements
This is not a celebration to Mother Earth, but thanking our Father God for His glorious creation and pledging to be good stewards of the gift He has entrusted to our care.
For more resources check out the EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/earthday
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