Good Morning.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12)
There is an incredible truth revealed in these verses; man’s obedience or disobedience has a direct impact upon our world. First of all, it affects those closest to us, our family. If we are walking in disobedience it can’t help but have a negative affect on our loved ones, either consciously or unconsciously. When we walk in obedience, our family — including those who are unaware of it — benefit from the blessings of obedience. If we walk in disobedience others in our sphere of influence can be negatively affected. Not least among the affects is the one our obedience — or in the case of Noah’s generation, disobedience — has on the very earth. In other words, the planet responds to our actions, good or bad. Consider what Moses told Israel concerning the land:
“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.…But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments … I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. (Leviticus 26:3-4, 14, 19-20)
It really makes sense when you think about it. Mankind was created from the dust of the earth; when we die we return to the dust. We have a connection to the dust of the ground. So when we who are dust walk contrary to the universal laws established by the Creator, it can’t help but have a negative impact upon the earth from which we came. Looking around at what is going on in the earth, it’s not hard to discern now mankind is behaving.
Where the people of God are concerned, we have a responsibility to the Almighty, our families and those we encounter to walk in concert with the will of God. Beyond that, Paul acknowledges that our faithfulness also has a role to play in the future of Creation itself. He said:
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)
There you have it — Creation is manifesting birth pains that are, in part, designed to signal the people of God to walk in obedience. Why? Because the Creation desires to be liberated from the bondage of corruption that the wickedness of man brought into and upon the world. Let us answer the call to be the remnant that makes the difference in our world — to our family, our friends and acquaintances and the Creation made especially for us.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments