Save the Earth! God and the Environment

As a resident of Austin, I am fairly used to the greener earth, reduced carbon footprint, organic vibe. To an extent, it has no direct effect on me. Generally I can decide whether I want to eat organically or drive a hybrid car. I can do certain things to be “greener” or more “energy efficient.” This I don’t mind so much. At times, though, our culture's obsession with fixing the environment can lead to frustration. 

Last November when I needed to get my Texas State inspection done on our 2004 Toyota, I was initially unable to pass the emissions inspection. This inspection is a bit of a waste to me anyway because the cars they are keeping from passing are not generally the ones that should be off the road if we are talking of pollution and emissions in general. I see big diesel trucks daily blowing black smoke out of their tailpipes while my Toyota rolls along, not smoking. To pass the inspection I was told I would need an $800 part. 

With some research I managed to find a way to still pass without replacing the part, and after much frustration, managed to get the sticker. It was a hard fought battle for something that seems quite insignificant to me, honestly. 

The popular opinion of the day, especially in Austin, is that we need to find ways to protect or fix our environment. The onslaught of global warming and various other related things, is damaging our world. This is at least the pitch we hear from those promoting this cause. 

It began affecting me again recently when Austin chose to do away with all plastic bags. We returned from Oklahoma to find that in order to carry out our groceries, we needed to spend $.99 per green recyclable bag. These bags were not nearly as capable of handling multiple loads of groceries, and made an already annoying task that much worse. A month or so later, I am still forgetting to bring them with me, and shelling out extra money each grocery visit to buy “environmentally friendly” bags. I would think there are more practical ways of helping the environment. I have trouble udnerstanding how my plastic bags were contributing to the earth’s deterioration.

Lest I sound too cynical, I will say that the idea is not entirely unacceptable. I can see how keeping our environment healthy would directly benefit those of us on this earth. What I sometimes fail to understand; however, is why people seem to think they can have a large affect on fixing the problem. 

While there are certainly ways of helping, there is no way that man can fix our environment. There are a few reasons for this. I would like to explore our environment and how as Christians we ought to relate to it in a Biblical context. My cynicism towards the changes I’ve had to make is partially misplaced, I will admit. Doing our part certainly isn’t hurting anything. What I would like to clarify though is that we are not to treat creation as a god to worship. We are also not to pridefully think that we have any ultimate control over our world’s fate. As we will see scripturally, God has it under control. 

We can really take comfort in that fact. If God, who created this earth, holds it in His full control, then we need not worry. After all, it’s His creation we are talking about.

The Creator

Beginning in the very first chapter of the Book of Genesis, we can already see that God has a pretty nice plan in place for the world. Each aspect of creation is followed by the note that God calls it “Very Good.” 

“Very Good” in Biblical terms is really to say that it is perfect. It is not yet introduced to sin, or the curse. It is as it was always meant to be, and as we will see, how it will someday again be.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY GOOD. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 (Emphasis Mine)

Right away, by the sixth day of creation, God is finished and says the creation is very good. This creation includes all of the animals at this point; as well as, the earthly environment. It is Earth in its finest hour so to speak. We will see; however, that as soon as man is given some freedom over this creation, we immediately screw things up. 

Genesis chapter 3, verse 15 is considered the first prophesy of Christ. It is also the verse that causes the entire world shift into its current state. With one disobedient act, God’s perfect creation is cursed. 

“...and I (God) will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between your offspring (those who are in sin) and hers (Christ); he (Christ) will crush your (serpent) head, and you (serpent) will strike his (Christ) heel.” Genesis 3:15

The majority of Biblical scholars point to this verse as the prediction of a future redeemer who will defeat the serpent (Satan), restore creation to its original state, and redeem man. While it is hard to see in the immediate, literal reading of the text, multiple commentators and early church Fathers have pointed to this verse as the first look at the Gospel in scripture. We know, of course, that Satan did “bruise Christ’s heel,” at the cross. What appeared as victory at the time, became inevitable defeat 3 days later when Christ rose and conquered death. At his second coming, He will put away Satan once and for all, and restore His creation. He will “Crush ‘the serpent’s’ head.” While this is an essential verse for our faith, it is not meant to be my primary focus for this post, so moving on, we examine a few verses later why the earth was cursed.

“To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, you must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from 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

This is really the key section for my point with this post. In Genesis 1, creation was perfect. God called it very good, and sin had not yet entered into it. After Genesis 3:15, as punishment for disobedience, God curses the earth. This prophetic punishment is a foreshadowing of an existing problem we face even today. The earth is not in perfect condition. This punishment is also done in full sovereignty. God is in total control, and even though we are separated after Genesis 3:15 from God’s presence, He has already established a plan from the moment the punishment is pronounced for the redeeming of His creation and its inhabitants that still seek Him.

The Cursed Creation is Still in God’s Full Control

Throughout Biblical history, the dynamic of a cursed creation is fully explored. The entirety of the Old Testament is a revealing of Christ who will come to redeem God’s people. Within the context of the various prophets of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament, we still see God in full control of His creation. In the following verses we will see more on the subject of the cursed earth, but will also note verses which point to God’s control over His creation, despite the punishment of the curse.

Cursed

“The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt...” Isaiah 24:4-6

“I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.” Jeremiah 2:7

God is in Control despite the Curse Because it is His  Sovereign Creation

“You alone are LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” Nehemiah 9:6

“For since the creation of the word God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has ben made, so that people are without excuse” Romans 1:20

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John 1:1-2

Creation’s Ultimate Redemption

We can see from the previous verses that God is absolutely in control of His creation. Nothing created by God is out of His control. Everything falls within His final redemptive plan.

We may ask; however, what is God’s redemptive plan? For the Christian, one aspect of it should be a no-brainer. We are redeemed from our separation from God by Christ’s death on the cross, and his substitutionary atonement. We who are called by God’s spirit to repentance and trust in Christ, are redeemed from our sin. 

While mankind’s redemption may be a more obvious purpose of God, we can see in scripture that the ultimate redemption of this earth (and God’s total creation) is a part of the divine plan as well. Christ didn’t just die to redeem people, He died to redeem this world from the curse. He who was sinless, suffered God’s wrath (which we had been storing up since the Fall) and justified us while we were yet sinners. For those in Christ, we have been justified by His sacrifice. If Christ’s crucifixion was about redemption, why do we still see an imperfect earth? 

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children 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 freedom and glory 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 8:19-22

Paul’s words here are pivotal in establishing creation’s relation to us in the redemptive process. The reason Christ isn’t sitting here with us as I type this, is because in God’s patience, he is waiting for all who he has called to come unto him. God is not willing any of his should perish, and so he patiently allows creation to continue groaning, as more continue coming to him. 

Paul’s speech here is very interesting as he anthropomorphizes creation, suggesting that it is anticipating its own redemption. Interestingly enough, the Bible is not silent on what this redemption of creation will look like.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10

“...That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:12b-13

“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...And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! god’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.’” Revelation 21:1, 3 

Our Response

So, when Christ has finally returned, and when the judgment has finally occurred, then this cursed earth will pass away, and God will make a new heaven and a new earth, for the righteous to dwell. This is Heaven, as I have mentioned in a previous blog: “Heaven: Our Hope in Christ.” The old picture of harp playing on clouds is scripturally inaccurate. Will we worship with music? Yes. But our bodies were originally created to dwell in a perfect creation, not to float around on clouds. Adam and Eve prior to the fall, were living in a perfected creation. It is only the curse of sin from the Fall that causes our world to be as it is today. Speaking both to the unbelievers’ separation from God, and to the destructive forces our earth experiences everyday, it is cursed. 

Though God is sovereignly in control, destructive storms were not part of the original creation. Earthquakes and destruction were not in the original perfected earth. With this in mind, it should be our great hope as Christians to see this new, perfected earth.

I’ve often joked that if all the misguided people out there following the New Age religions and worshipping the earth would simply trust in the God of creation and Christ, they would eventually see their desire for a perfect world come to pass. Sadly, even now, people misplace their efforts. No amount of reduction in carbon footprints will bring about the redemption of our environment on this earth. It is not possible. And, while I don’t want to be a total negative Nancy, we can see clearly in scripture that God has another plan. So what should our response be as Christians to the environment? Should we ignore and abuse it?

I think we can find this answer in a few key places in scripture. God originally set Adam to tend the garden and to subdue the earth. In this way, mankind was always meant to take care of creation. We are not here to abuse and destroy it, but to tend to it. 

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15

“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” Leviticus 25:23-24

Now, with the curse preventing its perfection, we certainly need not waste our lives pursuing perfected creation by our own hand. That would be a product of misplaced pride in our own abilities. 

I suggest that we do the small things that make an obvious difference. This may look different to different people, and I think that’s ok. I might continue to whine about the recyclable bags because I don’t see the full impact of that right now. Perhaps, someone can point it out and I will change my mind. It seems to me that people smoking or big trucks blowing diesel out is more damaging than my plastic grocery bag.

What I suggest is not so much a passive approach, as an actively passive approach. We need not waste our time trying to perfect something that cannot be perfected. But, if we see trash on the road, we can pick that up. If we get the choice we can buy a “greener” option for air fresheners or whatever the case may be. We can respect God's creation, despite its current cursed state.

The earth belongs to its Creator, and our hearts should be towards Him as well. The Bible says in Christ we are a new creation, the old has passed away. In this way, the earth will experience the same type of redemptive process at the end of time. For Christians, Heaven will be something familiar, but perfected. We will have redeemed bodies in a redeemed creation.

The next time someone is mocking our idea of Heaven, explain how it is simply a perfected version of our current world. Even the scoffers can admit to seeing some beauty in this world. How much more beautiful when it is redeemed, and we again have perfect fellowship with our Creator. In eager anticipation we wait, with creation, for its redemption. In the meantime, we look to the author of it all, and the sacrifice he made, that we might have unending fellowship with him, in this life and the next. Praise God!

Melchizedek: The Mysterious High Priest of God

A Call To Study
Sometimes I write blogs to compel others to study and research for themselves, the things that I believe, or find interesting. The topic here and characters related are often easily overlooked, but ultimately significant in establishing our view of Christ, and His many roles fulfilled in His life and now, even as we speak.

A Priest Not of Man
There is an interesting Biblical figure, mentioned only three times (2 OT, 1 NT), who appears at the very least to be a righteous priest of a non-levitical priesthood and possibly is an archetype of Christ or Old Testament Christophany. His name is written in our English Bibles as "Melchizedek." His first appearance is in Genesis 14:18-20.

Interestingly, the Hebrew breakdown of his name, Malki Tzedek is translated as "King is Righteousness." When we consider as well that the elements used to minister to Abram after his battle in Genesis 14 are bread and wine, it is difficult not to connect this character with Christ.

Melchizedek comes to Abram as the King of Salem (which is in what would become Jerusalem-site of Christ's future kingdom). Salem in Hebrew is transliterated to "Shalom" which is peace. So we could also rightly call him the "King of Peace." "Shalem" is another Hebrew transliteration meaning perfect or whole.

King David Prophesies
When David writes Psalm 110:4, we see another prophetic mention of Melchizedek. David is prophesying about Christ, the coming messiah, and says that He will be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The context of Psalm 110:1-4 is that David moves into the realm of prophesy in the midst of writing, and becomes predictive of Christ before transferring thought back to his normal writing. This occurs many times in the Old Testament, as Christ is gradually revealed through the kings and prophets' writings as they are Holy Spirit inspired. We know that the Old Testament's purpose is the revealing of Christ, so this fits well within that context.

New Testament Mention
Finally, we see in the New Testament in Hebrews chapter 5:6, that God has set Christ as a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The reason this is interesting is that based on even a simple look at the Old and New Testaments, the Levites were God's chosen priests to minister to Him. The Levitical priesthood was not even established until Moses' time. So, when we see Abram (prior to God renaming him Abraham), meeting a priest of the most high God, long before Moses and the Levitical priesthood, it should cause us to examine closely.

The Old Testament is filled with appearances that can be considered Christophanies or Archetypes of Christ. The entirety of the Old Testament is to prophesy and establish Christ as Messiah for God's people, and to look to the time (in the New Covenant) where the peoples' sins would be wiped clean, not just covered (as they were with the sacrificial system).

Christ is our great prophet, priest and King, and this is a great place to reference his God-given high priesthood. He is not in a priesthood of men (Levitical) but in this mysterious order based on Melchizedek.

Closing
Was Melchizedek literally Christ? It is hard to say. We can see the interesting nature of this mysterious Biblical character, and certainly draw a significant connection to Christ. Though his name is mentioned only three times Biblically, Melchizedek is an important figure pointing to Christ.

Christians serve a living God, who is active in Heaven even now on our behalf, and who understands even our most terrible temptations, as he suffered under every temptation in the fullest, yet did not give in to sin.

Related Verses (NIV-Emphasis Mine)
I will close with some verses related to this discussion, and encourage everyone to investigate for themselves this wonderful preview of Christ found in the Old Testament writing. We see that even as far back as Genesis (beginning with Genesis 3:15 and the first prophesy about Christ) that God's plan for salvation, was in place.

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was [is] the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand". And he (Abram?) gave him (Melchizedek?) tithe from all." Genesis 14:18-20


"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" Psalm 110:4


"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,  Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

" Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
'You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.'
And he says in another place,
'You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.' 
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 5:1-10

Out of the frying pan, Into the Day-to-Day

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 50:14)

Juliet and I were speaking yesterday about how difficult that past month had been. Normally, in the midst of troubles, we look ahead to upcoming events or happenings, and focus on the anticipation of future things.

We had plenty to focus on when March began, not least of which was the chance to be parents come October. Of course, our plans are not always in line with what God has for us. We both sat around yesterday feeling down. I had spent nearly $500 on brake pads, machined rotors, high mileage oil change, and bleeding brake system, and felt ripped off. Of course I hadn't thought to clarify what I wanted and get pricing first, so it is my fault for not being a more discerning consumer. My friend and I had done the brake pads on the same car 2 years ago for $35 total.

We both were home frustrated and wondering how the beginning of such a great month (March) had led to this time of frustration. As Juliet began listing things off that she "hated," I tried to point out that, while I too was frustrated by all of the bad things that had happened, we had still come out of the month with some great blessings as well.

It's true the more we think about our baby, the worse it hurts. It just seems weird to be so excited about something and to have it ripped away. We do not let go of our trust in God, but certainly the day-to-day leads to frustration. Juliet's family was supposed to be here by today as well originally. They hit a setback and as of now, I don't know when exactly they'll be able to come. This has been the same story for 2 years now, with various setbacks keeping them away. This makes me feel bad for taking Juliet away from her family in 2007, despite the blessing she is to me. It's hard to be the guy who married away the daughter.

Financially, we hit a block too with Juliet not working for 2 weeks and being out of PTO. We have had some help for which we are grateful, but the whole situation threw off any semblance of a budget I had for the year. I owe Juliet gifts promised to her months ago, and I feel bad that not only do I keep her from her family, but also I can't even get her a simple birthday gift.

I know she doesn't worry about the family thing, and we tend to be able to visit when we want. But, now with no more PTO for her, I'm not sure how to get her down there for a visit.  I want to say that in the midst of it all, we FROG (fully rely on God) but as Christians who are by no means perfect, we still get frustrated and question things sometimes.

In the midst of the list of things we were mad about, I did manage to point out some of the great blessings we experienced recently. The fact that my mom and Joe are now close by, and the fact we have consistently had a Sunday grilling dinner tradition, is a wonderful blessing that we wouldn't have anticipated even 2 months ago.

The fact that we are alive and breathing is another great blessing. I hurt for my dad and step-mom right now as she goes through some terrible lung problems. Certainly, they are in the midst of hardship as well. In retrospect, again, our troubles seem to pale in comparison. Juliet's supervisor had a daughter who had a miscarriage at the same time as Juliet, who had to receive three units of blood. We can be thankful then that Juliet only needed two, despite the trauma of that experience.

When we look around, there are always situations much worse than ours. There is this insane desire for the type of care and attention that comes from a personal tragedy. The outpouring of support from everyone during Juliet's miscarriage became a huge blessing to us. But, a week has passed and Juliet is doing better, and so the support network, as it is wont to do, fades back in to the background. It is ready at a moment's notice, and we pray there is no further need. Yet, some desire inside still longs for the acknowledgment and attention we became so reliant upon these past two weeks.

I find myself unmotivated by work. I was looking forward to some overtime and a chance to be the provider for the family as we anticipated the baby. Now overtime seems simply like more time away from Juliet. I want to be with her 24/7 now. I got used to taking care of her, and having her close by. To come back to the day-to-day of work (even at a job I love), has me in a funk. There is no driving force right now except: work-make money-pay bills-spend money-work some more.

I guess this is just a part of growing up. I can be thankful that I at least have a job that I enjoy most days. The pay is solid, and growth potential is there if I can get out of my funk and motivate myself to pursue it. I see others around me succeeding at the things I throw myself out there for, and wonder if I'm simply just in the midst of a greater plan, or if I have no actual skills for advancement.

I think in time this too will pass. Perhaps it is a lesson on living day to day and being appreciative for the daily things. We have spent a good portion of our marriage longing for future dates. We rarely just sit back and enjoy the days.

We should be mostly debt free by 2015, so that is a blessing. Had I known it would take 7 years when we got that first credit card, I would not have touched the thing. Now thousands of dollars in wasted money later, we at least have the blessing of a Christian debt counseling company that is paying off our debt at a rate faster than what we could have done ourselves. Another card just got paid down, so that's good news!

As Christians we do our best not to base our happiness on worldly things, but I think most Christians could agree that it is sometimes quite difficult. The world is all around us. Living as aliens in this world is harder as than it seems. I suppose that's why Christ asked us to take up our crosses and follow him. Or to rephrase, take up your Roman devices of torture and follow me, and be ready because this life won't be easy. Sometimes I wish he had said take up your pillows and follow me because we're going to have a nice nap. Alas, we move forward with what we have. We thank God each day for breath and life, and we strive to be more Heavenly minded, so that the trials and tribulations of this world pale in comparison to the promise we have someday in Christ. Keep us in your prayers, and thank you all again for the support in our time of need. It is appreciated more than anyone can know. Be blessed, friends!