LORD OF ALL CREATION

Psalm 24:1

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

                When we first considered purchasing our new home, we checked out what the weather was normally like in the area. We were pleased to see that, on average, this area had only one or two days of 90 or above and only two or three days below zero. We were delighted. The reality of our first summer here has been a different story. We have had multiple days of 90 and above with high humidity. Not at all what we expected. Several people have told us that this has not been a normal summer.

                We are living in a time of unprecedented climate change. It is common to hear that we are experiencing record high temperatures, record high flooding, record high incident of tornadoes, etc. It seems like our entire ecosystem has gone haywire.

                The book of Revelation tells us that as we draw closer to the end of time, natural disasters will become more frequent and more severe. John makes it clear that God allows this in order to call people to repentance. Yet John also records that many people, instead of repenting, will complain and turn away from God.

                In my devotions last week, I read Psalm 24 every day. It begins with these words.

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

                David boldly declares that the world we live in is firmly in the hands of God. He created it and He sustains it. So why are we facing all of these troubles? The answer is our own sin and rebellion. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, one of the consequences was that all of creation was affected. What had been a positive cooperation between nature and humanity, became a battle.

To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'

"Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat of it

all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return."

 (Genesis 3:17-19)

                In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that God has a higher purpose for allowing the distortion of His creation.  He is using creation to call humanity to repentance and redemption. The clear message is that it is time to get right with God.

    I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

    We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:18-22)

                We are not in control of the world around us and we never will be, no matter how hard we try. The good news is that there is a day coming when God through Christ will make everything right again. He will restore His creation to its perfect state and invite all who have placed their faith in Him to enjoy this new creation for all of eternity.

Revelation 21:1

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

                In light of all that is going on in our world and the eventual outcome, how should we live now. Peter gives us the answer. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. (2 Peter 3:11-12)

                We can complain about the heat. We can worry and fret over climate change.  Or we can pay attention and listen to what creation is trying to tell us. It is time to wake up and get right with God.  We have no time table to tell us how much time we have left, but we all know that our time is short. As the Bible says, today is the day of salvation. There is no time to lose.

Ephesians 4:1-2

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.