The Suffering Earth

The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 24:5

When God created the earth, he entrusted it to human beings to tend it and use it for good. But when the first humans sinned, the earth itself suffered the consequences. The human relationship with creation wasn’t severed, but it was broken. The earth became a source of pain for people, even as their sin led to the suffering of the earth itself. When we look at the state of our world today, we see evidence of human sin everywhere.

But God isn’t through with us or with the world. In Romans 8, we learn that creation has been groaning as if in labor pains. But the time will come when creation will be renewed along with human beings. Glory is coming when God makes all things right. That is our hope as Christians.

In the meanwhile, our hope for the future empowers us to live even now in a way that honors God. Though we know we can’t heal the earth, we try nevertheless to take care of God’s creation. As stewards of the earth, we seek its wise and judicious use. This isn’t a matter of political affiliation, but of being affiliated with God our Creator and Redeemer.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: In what ways have you experienced the brokenness and suffering of the earth? How do you see yourself as a steward of God’s creation?

PRAYER: Dear God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, how sad it is to see how our sin has corrupted your wonderful creation. Yet how good to know that you haven’t given up on the earth . . . or on us, either. Thank you for your commitment to the renewal of all things. And thank you for choosing to use us in this process. Help us, dear Lord, to be faithful stewards of your creation. Show us what this means in our daily lives, whether we’re at home or at work. May our concern for the earth be far more than a fad. Instead, may it reflect our love for you and your creation. Amen.