Earth Day

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Earth Day marks the anniversary of the environmental movement that began in 1970. According to one article, it’s the largest secular observance in the world, with over a billion people promoting awareness and involvement. While I think recycling is a great idea, love hugging trees, and am all for saving baby turtles, the extreme politics behind the movement prevents me from supporting the majority of ideas promoted by those in this camp.

Does that mean I can’t celebrate the day? On the contrary; I think Christians should be celebrating like no one else.

Due to God’s revelation in nature, Christians have been given a unique lens. Our planet is like no other in all of creation, and the brush strokes of our Creator reveal things about Him that cultivate an awareness of an amazing Artist.

When I take time to observe the variety of mountain ranges, each with their own design and unique color pallet, I am in awe of the Designer. When I drink in the beauty of the underwater world I am inspired to cultivate a relationship with the One who created this one-of-a-kind canvas. Understanding that God masterfully planned and executed the design of this earth before sculpting mankind out of it reveals to me the loving care He had for us long before anything even existed.

While I believe that our natural world displays the evidence of God’s existence, and gives us a basic understanding of some of His attributes (Psa.19:1-3 & Rom.1:20), I do not believe that we can know God and be saved through that awareness. Author, Don Stewart puts it this way: “Any conclusions about God's character and purpose one might make from nature must be evaluated in light of what God has said about Himself and what Jesus revealed about God when He invaded history. Nature is a witness to God's might and power but it does not supply all the knowledge a sinner needs to develop a personal relationship with God. That is the job of God's written Word-the Bible.”

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Restore The Earth.”

I love this theme, but it’s not because I dance to the beat of the climate changer’s cadence. In their view, they alone have the ways and means to bring about change; believing that the power to restore lies within their hands. What they don’t realize is that their efforts are futile.

This theme is notable because it’s prophetic.

Every Christian knows that the Earth is dying. The death sentence was pronounced when sin disrupted God’s created order and turned our world upside down. (Mtt.24:35 & 1Jn.2:17) No man can fix what sin did to our world, and no man will prevent the inevitable destruction to come. And that’s good news!

This theme echoes God’s promise to restore what sin broke. (Isa.65:17-25, Rev.21:1-5, 2Pet.3:10-13)

The incarnation of Christ set in motion God’s redemptive plan and His death and resurrection secured that plan. Consider a world where pain and suffering have been removed, where there is no more crying over sickness and death, and gone forever are the consequences of living with theft, betrayal, greed, envy, murder, etc.

Another great feature of this theme is that while it points to what’s coming, it speaks to the current restoration already in progress.

When I surrendered my life to Christ, it was at that moment that He began making “all things new.” (2Cor.5:17) The work won’t be completed until Jesus comes back, but I don’t have to wait until then to see that restoration began with my salvation. Jesus said, “I am making everything new.” (Rev.21”5) That statement is in the present tense. It’s happening right now! This proclamation energizes my soul.

So go ahead and plant a tree, clean the beaches, and do what you can to save the forest animals and sea creatures - God called us to be good stewards of His creation. But, don't forget to celebrate Earth Day because of the One who created this amazing planet. He not only tasked us with caregiving, but He invited us to be an active participant in His redemptive work to restore what was stolen.

The beauty that I view from the lens of redemptive eyes is awe-inspiring, but it is veiled like velum over a masterpiece of art. The day is coming when the overlay of sin will be removed. Our lens will change again, as the radiance from the Light of the world displays a canvas of beauty that is beyond anything we can reference or imagine in our world.