Thoughts & Reflections

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics."

Every day is Earth Day as we are called to be stewards of God's creation. In the book of Genesis, we are reminded of our responsibility for creation care (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV): "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

This passage reveals four relationships: our relationship with God, ourselves, others, and creation. These were established by God in the beginning so that we might corporately flourish and bring flourishing to his creation.

God created the Earth and everything in it, and entrusted it to our care. We are called to stewardship and not domination. We are called to be caretakers of God's creation, to nurture and protect it for future generations. Our dominion over the Earth is not one of exploitation, but of responsible stewardship. It is a partnership with God in the ongoing work of creation and redemption.

When we pause to appreciate the beauty of creation; the majesty of mountains, the serenity of rivers, the diversity of wildlife, we cannot help but be filled with awe and wonder at the works of God's hands. But our gratitude must also be accompanied by action. We cannot simply admire God's creation. We must also actively work to protect and preserve it. This means making choices in our daily lives that reflect our commitment to environmental stewardship by reducing our carbon footprint, conserving energy and water, supporting sustainable practices, and advocating for policies that protect the environment.

Just as God created humanity in His image, He also created every creature on Earth. When we harm the Earth, we harm ourselves and future generations. Our actions have consequences that extend beyond our own lives and our generation, affecting the entire web of life and future generations.

Let us recommit ourselves to being faithful stewards of God's creation. Let us honor the Earth as a gift entrusted to our care.

Wan Leng Ho