Revelation 21:1-5
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
For those despairing about climate change and what we’re doing to our planet, we have something to offer as Christians, hope. We know that God, the Creator, is in the restoration business. We might sing ‘I am a new creation!’ but God’s plan is bigger, one day he will make heaven and earth new too! Some might say this means we don’t need to care for this one, but that’s surely not so. Caring for our planet and the life on it is: an act of worship, showing we value God’s gift; an act of justice, it is the vulnerable that are affected most by climate change; and an act of mission, playing our part in God’s mission. We act not motivated by despair, but hopefully, motivated by hope.
Thank you Father that you love us and our world so much that you are not prepared to leave it broken but are working to make it new. Help us, help me, to play my part in my daily life.
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