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Session 4
Devotional
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”1 Chronicles 16:31
This week’s carol reminds us that the explosion of joy at Christ’s coming affects all of creation:Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
In We Believe in Jesus: The Redeemer, Dr. Glen Scorgie points out, “…the heart of Jesus Christ extends not only to his church but to the entire created order and all creatures, and… the redemption that we anticipate fully at the end time through Christ will be a redemption of this groaning creation as well.” This cosmic restoration is the hope behind the lyrics:
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing…No more let sins and sorrows grow,
I experienced a bright spot of this kind of creation care during a trip to East Africa. On my flight into Nairobi, Kenya I was surprised by the flight attendant’s announcement that anyone with plastic bags should leave them on the plane because they are illegal in Kenya. I often travel with plastic bags, like Ziplocs for my liquids and gels, as well as plastic grocery bags to wrap around my running shoes to keep my suitcase clean. I asked the steward whether I could keep these bags or if our luggage would be searched upon arrival. He explained that if I chose to keep them, I needed to make sure I took them back out of the country with me. He also recommended that I not show the bags in public because I could get a fine. On the ride to the retreat center where we would be leading a training event, I asked our Kenyan host about the plastic bag ban. He smiled and explained that it had made a significant difference. He pointed to the trees and bushes rushing past the car window and said, “All of this used to be littered with plastic bags. The trees were strewn with them and creek beds were clogged. But now,” he said proudly, “You don’t see a single one.” Dr. Scorgie describes the posture Christians should have towards the rest of creation: “those who follow Jesus Christ should rightly have a heart that beats in sync with his and cares about this world and its inhabitants just as much as the one who made it.” When we fulfill our God-given responsibility to steward creation we become more like Jesus. We also take care of our inheritance (Matthew 5:5). As Genesis 3 reminds us, all of creation suffers due to humanity’s sin. The consequences of the world being “in bondage to corruption” (Romans 8:21) can be deeply distressing, like when we witness animals preying on each other or when a beautiful place is marred by a natural disaster. The carol “Joy to the World” reminds us that even in this damaged state, creation joins with us bringing glory to God:
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found…Joy to the world! The Savior reigns:
And if the plants and animals, the sky and scenery can amaze and delight us in their current state, think how stunning it will be when all creation is freed from the curse. Then, we will sing the final stanza of the carol with a fuller understanding:
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy…He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love…Personal Application
- How does the idea of creation suffering and being cursed because of human’s sin impact your perspective on creation and your relationship with it?
- What activity could you do that would help you enjoy God’s creation more?
- What do you currently do to be a good steward of God’s creation? What could you improve or do differently?
Watch
Jesus As Redeemer