Embracing Kingdom Hope for a Broken World
Posts tagged Creator
Because He Cares
Jun 30th
Green Adventures: a series in which we invite you into the adventures from our journey.
There are a variety of reasons to care for creation. Here are a few more popular ones:
We care for creation because of its instrumental value. I care for it so that I can continue to use it and benefit from it (food, resources, etc).
We care for creation because we are commanded to. I care for the earth because God called me to steward it.
We care for creation because by doing so we can love our neighbor. I care for the earth in order to help others, including future generations.
Of course, there are many other reasons. One that I have been learning more about lately is this:
We care for creation because God cares for it. As His follower, His cares and concerns should be my cares and concerns.
If God feels that creatures and creation were created good, that it is worth His effort to care for even the sparrows, and that it is important to reconcile all things, then perhaps I should follow Him in this.
I have often been called to follow our Lord, but it is only more recently that I am beginning to intentionally extend this idea to creation care. Perhaps I did this unintentionally before. Lately, I am seeing a plant not just as a plant for decoration or food, but as a creation of my Lord to be cared for. I am seeing the ant, not just as a nuisance, but as a creature of my Lord to be admired.
I find it easy to go through life without recognizing God’s creation for what it is. Trees, plants, flowers, birds, pets, and bugs abound. They are all around. Recently, however, I am seeing them more and more for what they really are – God’s creations. These are not just scenery, items in the background. No, they are incredible creations that praise God’s name.
I hope I can see this more and more. And I hope you can as well.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Isaiah 44:23-24
May 4th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Isaiah 44:23-24
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by myself spread out the earth;
In the wake of the oil spill, let us cry out to the Lord who is both the Creator and the Redeemer of all things. It can be overwhelming and disheartening when we think of the extensive damage and harm that will be caused. There is little that we can do at present, but there is much the Redeemer who stretched out the heavens can do. Let us call upon Him in this time.
Also consider:
Eco Theology: Redemption of All Things
Apr 9th
Eco Theology: a series which explores the theology of creation care in bite-size chunks
Redemption of All Things
Have you ever had one of those total eye-opening, aha moments? You know, the ones where some new experience or piece of information makes everything come together? Where a puzzle piece suddenly makes the big picture so much clearer? Where in a split second your brain processes a world of thoughts? Where in the blink of an eye your worldview was transformed and your life changed?
I had one a few years ago. While some key foundations had been laid, it was the discovery of the fact that God was redeeming all of creation, not just individual souls, that was that moment for me in my journey to care for God’s creation. Two critical passages opened up my eyes to the breadth of Christ’s redeeming work. This was the turning point for me. So, please let me share it with you.
Romans 8:19-23
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Christians believe that there will be a day when Christ redeems mankind. However, we often forget or don’t even realize (as it was in my case) that the scope of His redemption is much grander. In last week’s post on the brokenness of creation we that despite the commands to care for creation in the Old Testament, creation is fallen and awaits redemption.
The broader scope of redemption is now made clear in this passage. Just as God’s children await redemption (verse 23) so creation longs for redemption as well (verse 19). One day it will be set free from its brokenness. Restoration will come. You see, up to this point in my journey I had boxed God in so tight that I failed to see that the scope of His redemption is much broader than saving souls (as great as that is). But here I began to see that the coming redemption will include the restoration of all of God’s creation.
The Peace Lily
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers– all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
If there was any lingering doubt after the Romans passage, it became crystal clear upon a closer reading of Colossians 1:15-20. Here in Colossians we see that Christ is going to reconcile “all things.” The Greek here does not at all indicate that this means “all people,” but rather clearly indicates that “the all” (or all things) is being reconciled. Donald Bloesch in his book The Last Things notes that, "we hope not simply for our own salvation but also for the redemption of the cosmos.”
The coming redemption will include the restoration of ALL of creation. “Nothing lies outside the creative redemptive scope of God’s grace” (Steven Bouma-Prediger in For the Beauty of the Earth). Our God is so amazing that He is working to redeem all of His creation: plants, animals, you, me. All that He made.
It is helpful to note that it is the same “all things” that were created in Christ Jesus (verse 16) that were reconciled to Him (verse 20). It is so important here to note that the Creator is also the Redeemer. My favorite early church father, Athanasius, said the following in the 4th century: “The renewal of creation has been wrought by the Self-same Word Who made it in the beginning. There is thus no inconsistency between creation and salvation; for the One Father has employed the same Agent for both works, effecting the salvation of the world through the same Word Who made it in the beginning.” The very God who created all of His glorious creation is now re-creating it. There is no inconsistency because the Creator is the Redeemer, the Re-Creator. Do you see what a beautiful, poetic idea that is?
Sometimes we Christians settle for a less than complete theology and view of what the Bible says. We settle for an incomplete gospel. But the gospel – the GOOD NEWS – is so great! It is God coming into our world. It is the arrival, the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom. It is good news for the poor, the sick, the captive, the broken. It is freedom and healing. It is new life and a new way of living. It is reconciliation. And it is the redemption of all of God’s creation.
You see this is where I get so excited about this. About the magnitude of God’s plan. About the amazing beauty of His restored creation. About the possibility of being a part of that work. We worship an incredible God who has come into our broken world to redeem all things. How exciting!
Also consider:
Green Verses: John 1:1-4
Mar 30th
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
This is an important week for Christians. As such I figured it might be valuable to look at the implications of the cross for creation. Before we can get to the cross however, we must start at the beginning. You see, it is important for us to understand that Christ was there at creation. Not only was He present, but “all things came into being through him.” We often think about Christ’s role on the cross and in redemption of sin. However, it is critical that we understand that He is also the Creator. As you go through this special week, think about the deep connection between the Creator and all of His creation as he walks towards the cross and is raised.
May you have a blessed week and understand and connect with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Also consider:
Green Verses: Job 12:7-10
Mar 23rd
Green Verses: a series which seeks to highlight scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption. Take a moment and reflect on what God might be saying through His Word.
Job 12:7-10
But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.
This past week I have spent a lot of time considering God’s creation. From the tiny ant, to the intricate flower, to the buzzing bee, to the multi-colored leaf, to the countless other plants and animals, creation screams of it’s Maker. It proclaims the One who has meticulously put these marvelous things together. Each of these creations points to the Creator. But this is no distant God. He did not wind up the earth and leave it behind to spin out its days. No, this God – our God – holds in His hands the very life-breath of every living thing. He is both exceedingly superior than AND intimately present with His creation.
Also consider:
