solar cells, baby seals and God's glorious redemption
An important reminder from Lauren Merritt of the very real and biblical redemption God intends for His creation and creatures ...
We think and scheme and recycle and use ‘green’ cleaning products and cut the rings on our soda packaging. But still millions of cattle on a thousand hills of excrement face blows to the skull after spending 8 months in feed lots without seeing a blade of grass or natural stream of water, and birds of paradise are driven without rest into the sky, away from their burning homes as Western corporations make way for new cocao plantations on utterly unsustainable land.
What use is it that my heart breaks for the creatures whose entire life is a regimen of slow and controlled suffering? Or that my soul cries at the thought of our magnificent rivers, like the Colorado, drying up so that they can no longer reach the ocean? How can I go on living with the burden of cruelty processed in plastic wrap available at every local grocery store, with a don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy when it comes to origins? And all the while I dream of a sustainable world that defines our resources: one where all living things are gifts from God, and animal life is life we should regard (Proverbs 12:10).
I have only one hope: God has heard the groans of Creation. We have abandoned righteousness, but God has planned a coming restoration, a glorious deliverance for humans, for animals, for Creation.
Please see Lauren's post
God has a future plan for His Creation ...
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:18-22, all passages ESV)
... God has a plan to restore Creation in the future ...!
The most beautiful painting of Creation God has given:
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the LORD has done great things!
Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield. (Joel 2:21-22)
“I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild beasts will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness.” (Isaiah 43:19-20)
Amen, and amen. Lauren's original post shares a bit more about God's ongoing care for His creatures, in particular the sparrows and swallows. For more on the baby seals her title references, please see our post "Canada's Seal Hunt."
(a sincere thanks to our regular contributor Lauren for sharing "Solar Cells, Baby Seals and God's Glorious Redemption," originally posted at The Christian and Creation ~ Glorifying the Creator; photos courtesy/copyright Farm Sanctuary and Feng Yu, Rebecca Romano/123rf.com)
April 9, 2010
Reader Comments (2)
Amen. These are my thoughts exactly. Thanks for this post and this blog!
Thank you so much for such an affirming note, Lois, I made sure to forward it on to the post's author Lauren as well. best wishes - Ben