‭‭ROMANS‬ ‭8:19-22‬

It is on days like today that we recognize and remember that the earth groans, long awaiting her Lord to set her free from the bondage she is in as a result of the sins of man. As climate change looms over us with its daunting irreparability, we become utterly aware of our sins.

It was humankind set to rule the earth. We, being image-bearers, made in the likeness of God were created to care for the nature into which God’s spirit was breathed. For just as we were given breath and made living creatures ( or nephesh chayah נפש חיה ), so also are the beasts of the earth, the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing. We all carry the breath of God, humanity and all of nature, all of the living creatures or nepheshot chayot are animated by the Great Spirit. And yet, a select and holy few, the image-bearers of the Holy Elohim were set apart to care for the earth.

What a great transgression, that we’d rule with cruel and greedy hands. Instead of toiling with care, we’d strip the earth of her resources so that we could gain wealth. Instead of offering tender affection for the beasts of the fields, we’d stuff them in cages too small and slaughter their young so that we might be gluttonous and wasteful. Instead of using the energy given to us from the very essence of the divine, the breath of his lungs which blows across the land, the great light of his word which offers life, the refreshing waters of his spirit, we mine the ground pillaging that which we had no right to abuse. And as we transgress, creation groans. Wildfires rage as if attempting to purify the land. Tsunamis devastate the shores as if making attempts to refresh her wounds. Hurricanes grow and swell as if reminding us of the winds of God that animated us to begin with. Desert lands long for water, while oceans rise and cities flood.

And so the earth groans, and we groan with it. For we know, that the earth will not find the fullness of relief it needs without the return of the King. Yet, even so, are we not the sons of Elohim? Are we not the ones trusted to look after the earth and all her beauty? Perhaps amidst our groaning, we might offer relief to creations groaning. For what if when the messiah said that the kingdom was at hand, he meant that the earth’s groaning could be relieved. What if when he said greater works would be fined he spoke of pockets of creation singing. What if when he said that it would be better for him to leave, he spoke of the Spirit’s work amidst the church to redeem the land. For if Christ was able to tame the wild, could his image-bearers also?