Leviticus 25:4—But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.
Flying over
Does it seem like conservationists often come under great scorn? The fear that our land is dangerously abused seems somehow absurd to many because of its sheer enormity. Tree-huggers and land-lovers take their share of knocks. Yet, we as Christians ought to be concerned about the land. It’s an issue of stewardship. To be sure there are those who worship the earth and call her mother. This passion, be it old or new age, is nothing short of idolatry in the Father’s sight. But the excesses of some in search of a savior do not legitimize the neglect of others who see earth as a temporary blimp surpassed by a heavenly home.
Do we think the same God Who gave Adam instructions to tend Eden; Who taught the Israelites to care for their land and give it rest from constant growing; drafted cosmic legislation relieving us of responsibility to nourish our surroundings so we could focus solely on propagating the gospel message? In fact, the land is a testifying voice to the reality of God! For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20).
Damaged land hardly glorifies God! How can the fields be jubilant, and everything in them and how can the trees of the forest sing for joy (Psalm 96:12), if they are polluted and trashed? What kind of spiritual example are we if we litter the land in apathy?
Today the sky was full of smog. Yet despite the toll of sin on earth my heart still joins the song crickets and frogs, bluebirds and sparrows raise in chorus. This land is your land. This land is my land. May we wisely treat it with honor so that those still searching see our good deeds and are led to our Savior-Designer.
Inspiration
