Romans 8:20-21 (NIV)
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Genesis 3:17 (HCSB)
17 And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you.
How do we save the planet?
By saving humankind from the curse of sin and death. Not by environmentalism.
The entire creation was cursed by Adam’s sin and as such it can not be saved until the remnants of Adam’s sin is erased from the earth. Jesus’s birth, death and resurrection set in place the foundation for this eventual redemption of the world, but it is not complete until everything has been made subject to Jesus Christ. This will happen when he returns to set up his kingdom. The continued laboring and sweating to produce a ‘good crop’ will continue until the earth is cleansed of all unrighteousness.
It is true that man is the reason the environment in which we live is a mess. It is sinful man who has subjected the earth to God’s curse, but it is not through environmentalism that this curse will be reversed but through the redemption of humanity. No amount of environmental efforts is able to reverse God’s curse, only by receiving God’s blessing can the curse be reversed, and that only comes through salvation in Christ.
You see had Adam and Eve not introduced sin into the world at the beginning, but lived their life in obedience to God, the earth would be the paradise that environmentalists are always dreaming of. But since the environmental movement does not take into account God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ, their remedies are worse than the cause. They believe that if you end humanity from the earth then all will be well.
That has been tried before and yet the problems still persist.
Genesis 6:5-7 (GW)
5 The LORD saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil.
6 The LORD was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and he was heartbroken.
7 So he said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth these humans that I created. I will wipe out not only humans, but also domestic animals, crawling animals, and birds. I’m sorry that I made them.”
God who created the whole of creation looked down upon the earth and saw nothing but corruption. He saw how evil humankind had become. He saw how mortals were constantly plotting evil intentions in their hearts. And God planned to cleanse the earth of the entire human population, to end the lives of all that He created. After all He was the creator and he could do what he wanted with that creation.
I am afraid that many today see God as this evil tyrant who is only looking for a reason to wipe us all out. And if we are not careful to fully understand the true story of Noah then we too could come away with the same picture of God. To be fair if God really wanted to end humankind all he had to do was prevent Adam and Eve from procreation and it all would have ended before it began, but that was not his overall plan, which we will see as we continue to look at the true story of Noah.
In the latest movie adaption of the Noah story there are several huge problems. For one, its characterization of Noah is very troubling. In this movie, Noah is willing to murder three men to try to save the life of an animal that had been severely wounded. To this Hollywood Noah, animal life was far more important than human life. He didn’t really try to save the life of a young woman whom Ham tried to save. Moreover, if Noah’s daughter-in-law gave birth to a girl, Noah said, “From the moment of her birth I will cut her down.” Throughout the second half of the film, Noah is obsessed with making sure all of humanity is wiped out so that the “innocents” (read: animals) can live peacefully in a new post-flood Eden. This I am afraid is the position of many environmentalists who see HUMANS as a plight on the earth and animals as innocent victims of civilization. However when God created the earth he said that there was no one to tend to it and thus he created man to tend to the earth and take charge of it. The earth was created for man and man was not created for planet earth.
Genesis 2:4-8 (GW)
4 This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when the LORD God made earth and heaven.
5 Wild bushes and plants were not on the earth yet because the LORD God hadn’t sent rain on the earth. Also, there was no one to farm the land.
6 Instead, underground water would come up from the earth and water the entire surface of the ground.
7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.
8 The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That’s where he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:15 (GW)
15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.
As previously stated the entire creation has become subject to a curse because of Adam’s sin but at the same time humans are also under that same curse. Therefore to be exact the entire creation has become corrupted by the first sin of Adam. Therefore none is innocent. However that is not exactly how God saw things.
Genesis 6:9 states that Noah “was a just man, perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God.
” He was faithful to do everything God had commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22). God said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation
” (Genesis 7:1). In the book of Ezekiel, Noah is identified as a righteous man and is placed in the same context as Job and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14, 20). Peter called Noah a “preacher of righteousness
” (2 Peter 2:5). Noah also appears in the “Faith Hall of Fame” chapter—Hebrews 11:7 states, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
”
You see despite all the evil that was taking place upon the earth there was goodness represented by Noah. God called him righteous in his generation. Would God call you righteous in our generation? Could it be said of you that you were faithful to do everything God had commanded you to do?
I thought it was important to note that scripture records the birth of Noah and states that his name meant relief.
Genesis 5:28-29 (GW)
28 When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of a son.
29 He named him Noah [Relief], and said, “This child will bring us relief from the work and painful labor of our hands since the LORD has cursed the ground.”
The people of that time knew that the earth was cursed and believed that relief would come one day. When Noah was born he was given the name which in Hebrew meant relief with hope that Noah would bring relief to all this toilsome labor. In a way relief did come through Noah but not exactly like we might think.
Genesis 7:1-4 (GW)
1 The LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ship with your whole family because I have seen that you alone are righteous among the people of today.
2 Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal (a male and a female of each) and one pair of every kind of unclean animal (a male and a female).
3 Also, take seven pairs of every kind of bird (a male and a female of each) to preserve animal life all over the earth after the flood.
4 In seven days I will send rain to the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. I will wipe off the face of the earth every living creature that I have made.”
God set out to wipe the earth clean of every living thing, animals included, with the exception of those Noah took with him on the ark. The ark was the only place of safety to be found, and had God not told Noah to build it there would have been no hope for anyone or anything. You see God was not without mercy. He was not going to completely annihilate all that he created, he had a plan of escape from his wrath, the only thing Noah had to do was listen and obey, which is exactly what he did.
You notice the animals came to Noah for safety and he took them in. There is no mention of other people coming to Noah to be saved.
Genesis 7:6-10 (GW)
6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood came to the earth.
7 Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives went into the ship to escape the floodwaters.
8 Clean and unclean animals, birds, and creatures that crawl on the ground
9 came to Noah to go into the ship in pairs (a male and female of each) as God had commanded Noah.
10 Seven days later the flood came on the earth.
Genesis 7:15-16 (GW)
15 A pair of every living, breathing animal came to Noah to go into the ship.
16 A male and a female of every animal went in as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD closed the door behind them.
God shut the door and did not allow anyone or anything else on board. The time had come. Judgment day had arrived.
Noah spent a great deal of time building this huge boat, in front of his countrymen, in plain sight, and yet only Noah and his family actually got on the boat. It had not rained prior to this and where Noah was building his boat there was no body of water so it made no sense to build this huge boat in the middle of dry land. The people of Noah’s day were oblivious to what was going on around them because they have come to believe that they were in control of their own destinies and did not have the fear of the Lord within their hearts. They had no knowledge of God’s righteousness or wrath. They had grown cold toward the things of God, that is all but Noah who God said was the only one righteous in his entire generation. Scripture gives us a deeper understanding of what happened in those days when we read:
Matthew 24:36-39 (GW)
36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah.
38 In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship.
39 They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.
You see there is coming another judgment day from God and as in times past many will be unaware of their own impending doom. Oh there will not be a world-wide flood but there is a coming judgment. Will you be ready? Will you be found righteous and worthy to escape God’s wrath? Have you boarded the ark of salvation prepared for you by God through Jesus Christ?
1 Peter 3:18-22 (GW)
18 This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit.
19 In it he also went to proclaim his victory to the spirits kept in prison.
20 They are like those who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah when God waited patiently while Noah built the ship. In this ship a few people—eight in all—were saved by water.
21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn’t save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience. It saves you through Jesus Christ, who came back from death to life.
22 Christ has gone to heaven where he has the highest place that God gives. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.
But just as in Noah’s day there will be many who will not believe and even scoff at the very notion that there is a righteous God ready to mete out justice for all who live ungodly lives. In fact they will not only scoff at but actually promote godlessness through their actions and teach others to do the same. They will actually rejoice in their ungodliness as if to show that there is no God and they can do what they please. Basically history repeating itself.
2 Peter 2:1-10 (GW)
1 False prophets were among God’s people {in the past}, as false teachers will be among you. They will secretly bring in their own destructive teachings. They will deny the Lord, who has bought them, and they will bring themselves swift destruction.
2 Many people will follow them in their sexual freedom and will cause others to dishonor the way of truth.
3 In their greed they will use good-sounding arguments to exploit you. The verdict against them from long ago is still in force, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment.
5 God didn’t spare the ancient world either. He brought the flood on the world of ungodly people, but he protected Noah and seven other people. Noah was his messenger who told people about the kind of life that has God’s approval.
6 God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them by burning them to ashes. He made those cities an example to ungodly people of what is going to happen to them.
7 Yet, God rescued Lot, a man who had his approval. Lot was distressed by the lifestyle of people who had no principles and lived in sexual freedom.
8 Although he was a man who had God’s approval, he lived among the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Each day was like torture to him as he saw and heard the immoral things that people did.
9 Since the Lord did all this, he knows how to rescue godly people when they are tested. He also knows how to hold immoral people for punishment on the day of judgment.
10 This is especially true of those who follow their corrupt nature along the path of impure desires and who despise the Lord’s authority. These false teachers are bold and arrogant. They aren’t afraid to insult the {Lord’s} glory.
2 Peter 2:13-19 (GW)
13 …These false teachers are stains and blemishes. They take pleasure in holding wild parties in broad daylight. They especially enjoy deceiving you while they eat with you.
14 They’re always looking for an adulterous woman. They can’t stop looking for sin as they seduce people who aren’t sure of what they believe. Their minds are focused on their greed. They are cursed.
15 These false teachers have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam, son of Beor. Balaam loved what his wrongdoing earned him.
16 But he was convicted for his evil. A donkey, which normally can’t talk, spoke with a human voice and wouldn’t allow the prophet to continue his insanity.
17 These false teachers are dried-up springs. They are a mist blown around by a storm. Gloomy darkness has been kept for them.
18 They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
19 They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to.
2 Peter 3:3-7 (GW)
3 First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule {God’s promise}
4 by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.”
5 They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth {appeared} out of water and was kept alive by water.
6 Water also flooded and destroyed that world.
7 By God’s word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.
2 Peter 3:10-13 (GW)
10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.
11 All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live
12 as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come. When that day comes, heaven will be on fire and will be destroyed. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and melt.
13 But we look forward to what God has promised—a new heaven and a new earth—a place where everything that has God’s approval lives.
You see the real story of Noah is not just about a flood and a big boat, but about righteousness and judgment. There is a God who created all this and who has a stake in how it all turns out. This same God formed the world by his say so and is the same God who flooded the earth at his command. This same God could have completely wiped out the entire course of humanity but instead chose to safe a few souls, that is 8 in all along with every living creature that lived upon the earth. He showed mercy in the midst of great destruction. He showed compassion while witnessing constant evil taking place on the earth he created, by people created in his reputation.
God takes no delight in the punishment of the wicked, he would rather they all would come to him for salvation. He would prefer if everyone gets on board the ark of safety to avoid the coming judgment. But being God he knows not all will come to him to be saved, in fact many more will reject his offer and continue to live according to what their earthly desires dictate.
The story of Noah should be a somber warning to all those who think God does not care about what happens here on earth. To those who think he is an absentee landowner need to think again because there is coming another flood of judgment and only those who are safely on board the ark will be saved. Are you on board? Or are you like many others poking fun at the Noah’s of today who are building arks of safety for their families while all around them are people busy doing their own thing totally unaware of an all-seeing God keeping watch over his creation? It is not too late to get on board, but one day it will be too late for the door will be closed. How long do you think you can tread water?
This is a view from the nest. What say you?
But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
Along for the journey
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