In Charge of The Earth

The debate rages on. The discussions about global warming, greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, paper or plastic, automobiles, factories, polluted water, polluted air, alternative energy sources, governmental apathy, concerned citizens' groups, land fills, etc., etc., etc. are enough to boggle the mind. So, most people just ignore them and keep on doing what they are doing. Americans have chosen comfort over custodial responsibility.

But burying one's head in the sand will not make the problem go away, and will not absolve us from our mandate by God to reign in His name over His creation. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away, because sooner or later the sand will suffocate us and we will have to answer to God as to why we did not use the sand more productively.

Rather than extend or add to the raging debate on these topics, let me just say that at the very least the people of this planet have not been the proper stewards of the earth that God charged them to be. Humans, made in the image and likeness of the godhead Himself, were created with godlike souls sufficiently capable of caring for and reigning over the earth as God Himself would. For us to mirror God's image, our image and likeness must necessarily be intellectual, have His mind, His soul, and must have been formed after the nature and perfections of God. While the human mind is still endowed with extraordinary capacities, more than anything created, it was even more so when the hands of its Creator first issued it. God produced a spirit formed after the perfections of His own nature, a spirit totally and completely capable of performing to the glory of God the task it had been given. God created humans capable of governing the world, and when outfitted for the office, He put them in it.

What happened then? How have we come to this point? Why are we breathing polluted air, drinking polluted water, and changing the earth from the green of His lush forest to the grey of our overcrowded, polluted, concrete cities? Why do we disregard the fact that the comfort and leisure we enjoy today will have to be paid for by the sickness, death, and maybe even the total destruction of those who must come after us? The answer in a word is, SIN. God gave this charge to humans before the Fall, before Sin was introduced into the world, before humans were dismissed from the fellowship with God first intended by the godhead. I have no doubt that the planet will survive, but will we?

There is hope, however. God has prepared for Himself a people, a people capable of carrying out His charge to the benefit of all, and to His glory. He has made possible a people who have been re-created in His image and likeness, who have been regenerated; who are blood-bought, water-baptized, and committed to a life that demonstrates gratitude and dedication to Him who made it possible, Jesus Christ. He calls this people His church.

The world is in the shape it is in because unregenerate men who rule in a manner that befits their god, the prince of this earth, Satan himself, are ruling it. The real Sin, and the real cause of the devastation and destruction is that the church, the regenerate souls, allows them to do it.

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chron 7:13-14 NIV

"If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Ps 81:13-14 NIV