Let’s heed the call to build up not tear down
The second quarter of the year is marked by the observances of days calling attention to urgent degenerating aspects of the earth and its environment. This is universal in its appeal cutting across countries around the globe – Environment Day, Earth Day, Earth Hour, and so on. All of these observances point us to one central focus – This wondrous and magical creation of God Almighty is gifted to us humans to live and enjoy and inhabit. But sadly humanity is so depraved and blinded in its self satisfying pursuit that man failed to see the precious worth of this universe and we continue to plunder and pillage it in a multitude of ways through gross negligence, utter disregard for nature and wreck the delicate balance in the ecosystem. Selfish and lucrative dreams and aspirations of humans are erected on the devastating destruction and erosion of the environment, polluting it and contaminating it to a level where nature struggles to cohabit with humans.
Mathew Chap 6: Verses 25-30 serves as a strong reminder that when we have our Living Loving Father who constantly reminds us not to worry as HE knows our needs and HE will provide as only HE can. Why then do we lesser humans ruin this beautiful planet created by God for our life and living driven by a paranoia to satiate our selfish and self seeking needs?
God created us the highest form of life to live with other creatures in perfect harmony. But we ravage this beautiful earth to satiate our selfish needs and do incredible harm to the ecosystem endangering the very life and survival of so many of God’s creations. We have destroyed the beautiful scenic Eden that God created where He placed the first man and woman. We continue this assault on nature mercilessly on every front. And at this pace we will very soon destroy the eco balance God has created making this world dangerous for humans and other creatures to inhabit. This wreckage at the physical level has a parallel with the spiritual hollowness of man with the total erosion of goodness in humans.
Climate change, pandemics, droughts, floods, cyclones, tsunamis are all threats threateningly looming on the horizon waiting to wreck havoc in this universe.
Mother Earth beats her breast in anguish at the merciless onslaughts against her by humans.
Against this cruel and ruthless backdrop if we examine the Scripture it points us to the message that can be aptly summed up in three words: Re-imagine, Recreate and Restore.
We need to revisit the tranquil Eden – immersed in stillness, bathed in peace and vibrant with natural beauty. And to do this we first need to reconnect with God in an active and participative way. We cannot permit covetousness and lust for the things of this world to blind man as he walks the path of plunder and loot. Greed and arrogance must make way for more wholesome Christian values of charity, selflessness, love for fellow humans and a simple but genuine concern for man and nature. We must be responsible enough to leave a healthy and habitable environment for the coming generations as our legacy.
The church also has a green mission – a crusade to preserve, conserve and build up the environment in which we live so the generations coming after us will inherit an interdependent and eco-friendly world.
The message of the Gospel is scripted in nature – in the trees, clouds, stars, the lush greenery enveloping us.
We are custodians of this great and beautiful world and we are commissioned to preserve and conserve it for the future.
We need to exercise tremendous restraint and respect and accord great value to the things placed in this world by our creator and pledge to grow it and not destroy it.
May this message of repentance, restraint and repair echo in our hearts and minds calling us to rededicate ourselves as children of God to enhance, preserve and restore this wondrous creation of God and make it a thing of beauty to behold for posterity.
God bless you all.
Aby Achen