Should we as Christians really be bothered about looking after the planet? After all it’s going to be burnt up (or is it?) – should our job not be about saving souls?
I was musing on these things recently after a few comments I read on a social network site. They were particularly in reference to Romans 8:19 ‘For the Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.’ When we follow God we become his sons (and daughters) in effect. That word revealed, comes from being exposed by the removal of clothing. God is going to reveal or unveil everything in that day.
Why would the creation be waiting to then be thrown out (figuratively) and be destroyed by fire? That doesn’t make sense. Even in Noah’s time there was a gene pool saved and continued both of plants and animals (And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten, and gather it together. It will be food for you and for them. Genesis 6:21 NET). What can be seen in the Old Testament is often a pattern of what is to come.
Furthermore in Genesis 6 the judgement by water did not destroy everything. It reformed what was there – the new earth as it were, was recycled, taking elements of what was, to make something new. There are two meanings of new in the New Testament – I am told. New in scripture can be completely new (neos) or it can mean something like re-new, restore or repair. Kainos is the word which is used for new earth. Why would the Father make something good then to ruin it especially when the creation is longing with such eager anticipation?
Now that matter of saving souls. This seems to be the majority Christian view which I have been influenced by in the past. Jesus is actually into saving ‘wholes not just soul’s’. It is not up to us to save anyway; Jesus did this at the cross. It is up to us to share or preach the gospel through word and deed. Mark 16:15 NET states He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The arena of mission for believers is seen in the whole of God’s story written in scripture. This arena is sometimes portrayed as a triangle with God at the top point, humanity at one bottom corner and the earth at the other corner. Chris Wright explains this well in his book ‘The Mission of God’. The passage of scripture Colossians 1:15-20 states it so well. That is good news; hope for all creation.
The New Heaven is breaking out onto the earth through the lives of those who trust and follow Jesus. As we let his kingdom work through us the whole of creation will see Him and be transformed.