The Only Way to Save the World?

My two favorite Bible verses are conversations between God and God. Yes, God talking to Jesus; and referring to Him as God:

Hebrews 1

8 But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

10 He also says to the Son,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. 12 You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”

Then, in Psalms 2, a conversation between God and Jesus where for the first time in the Bible, God calls Jesus His Son;

Psalms 2

6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b] Today I have become your Father. 8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.”

Isn’t it amazing! Jesus not only had everything created through Him, but also has authority over everything He created. God the Father says to Jesus the Son that in the beginning, He manufactured the earth with His own hands.

Well, if the earth is ailing? Why not RETURN TO MANUFACTURER?

The only reason why people needlessly strive to change the world by their own might is because they do not want to account to a higher power. God Himself says this about the nations trying to overthrow the rule of the anointed Jesus in Psalms 2.

Psalms 2

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

Regarding climate change, should man focuses on keeping oceans plastic free and stopping carbon emissions? Absolutely yes! In Genesis, God gave us the responsibility of taking care of the creation. But what is the root cause of the climate change? Could it be a result of God’s curse? Absolutely! God placed a curse on all creation when he cursed man for sinning in Eden. Man and creation fell that day. But God had a plan to restore earth through the manifestation of the sons of God, men who are renewed by the transformation of the mind and who are holy and righteous. Who are these people that creation is groaning and begging God to reveal? The faithful Christians

All Creation may be more interested in Salvation and Holiness than in clean water and rain! To understand why, let us take a look.

Romans 8

20. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,

21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved.

Evidently, salvation is the only cure for the ailing of the earth caused by the fallen nature of sin.

As Paul wrote, the earth did not escape the judgment of the fall. The original condition of nature, which was perfect, began to degenerate after the first sin. Thorns and thistles started coming from the formerly good ground. From the Bible, the thorn, like the serpent, is the natural enemy of humanity. The thorn is used in Scripture as a symbol of evil:

Numbers 3:55

“But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live".

Also, from many scriptures, sometimes the Lord withholds rain as a means of correction and punishment for man when He is displeased.

Haggai 1:9

You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”

Joel 2:25

Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, my great army which I sent among you.

Deuteronomy 28:38

You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it.

Amos 4:9

"I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; and the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Psalm 78:46

He gave also their crops to the grasshopper. And the product of their labor to the locust.

Psalm 105:34

He spoke, and locusts came, And young locusts, even without number,

If the earth’s ails are brought by sin, can genuine repentance cure?

Malachi 3:11 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

What is the biggest concern to God in the world? Is it the animals, is it the plants? Absolutely NO! Man is more precious to God than all creation. Thus, God is the one changing the world and bringing healing to the hopeless:

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to co me to repentance.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

1 Corinthians 6:11

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Malachi 3:6

6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

John 10:10

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

As Christians we must protect God’s creation through acts such as throwing trash responsibly and planting trees. But the best way to be part of the solution is to involve Jesus and his ministry, not to invest in a world that will soon disappear too much while ignoring souls that need healing. Prioritize God as you change the world.