Care for God’s Creation (III)

During the rainy season, indiscriminate disposal of refuse compromises the drainage system. Unfortunately, precipitation levels these days are higher than before (i.e. more rainwater comes down per rainfall now than before). So, more rainwater in the face of poorer drainage is a recipe for disaster. When flooding (which is a consequence of our misconduct) occurs, it often happens that people will set out to make spiritual appeasements, believing that begging some deities will solve the problem. This is not necessary; rather, we should find out what we are doing wrong and correct ourselves. God had said:

Genesis 9:11  And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

If avoidable floods are destroying humanity in our locality, let us check ourselves.

It is not only during the rainy season that we abuse the environment. During the dry season, we start indiscriminate bush burning, which leads to destruction of many small animals that live in the soil. Also, many valuable plants are destroyed. Bush burning can sometimes become so uncontrollable that it leads to damage to barns, houses, and sometimes whole communities. In one instance in the past, a whole forest reserve was almost razed down. The damage to flora and fauna, and the economic damage of bush-burning are better imagined. Meanwhile, the encounter of the angel of God with Moses in the book of Exodus shows us that our God is a conservationist. He used fire to arrest the attention of Moses, but God ensured that the bush was not burnt – He was careful not to waste the vegetation (Exodus 3:1 – 6). Fire on the flora in the Old Testament was only possible as a manifestation of divine judgment. For example, the Lord said through prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 7:19-20  Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, however, confirmed to us that God is concerned about the conservation of both mankind and the flora and fauna in commensurate measure. He alluded to this fact in Matthew 6: 25 – 31 while trying to teach His disciples to trust in God’s benevolence. He said to them,

Matthew 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Everything that God created is good, and God is interested in their wellbeing. If God cares for nature, we should too. Do you?

*to be continued*

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