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God has an amazing plan to redeem and restore things that became broken when disobedience entered the picture. He calls it reconciliation.
The Bible says that He’s reconciling to Himself all things through Jesus Christ. And by all things, he means all. Things like people, animals, and the natural world. Creation itself.
Here’s the kicker: we’re called to participate in this plan!
Since His plan for restoration centers upon Christ, we should start there. Let's examine what He taught. See what He did. We should use Jesus as the model in how to respond to wrong things, broken things.
So what did he do?
He spoke truth—every time, even when to do so upset the civil and religious authorities of the time.
He humbled himself, taking the very nature of a human baby, no less.
He confronted hypocrites, especially those who considered themselves religious leaders.
He exposed deceivers who profited at the expense of the oppressed.
He served others, loved others, and sacrificed for others.
He restored broken people and things.
He never bowed to intimidation.
He acted justly.
And he always communed with the Father, holding himself accountable to His will.
That’s what He did.
Let’s strive to interact with the natural world and with each other in the same way.
We can start by doing business with transparency. Let’s be truthful when our product contains harmful chemicals that degrade the body or the environment. (And not wait ten years before we announce it or phase them out.) Let’s not lie about the science or fudge testing results. Let’s not misrepresent our innovative green products or their capabilities.
Let’s be at the forefront in preventing, confronting, and responding to environmental degradation. Let’s take action when there’s been an oil spill. Or a leaking landfill. Or a pesticide that kills more than weeds. When we see an injustice, especially against the natural world, let’s act.
And along with truth, justice, and action, let’s use love, gratitude, vigilance, and accountability as our guides. We confront wrong things in truth, but we’re guided by love. We hold people accountable, but we do it with integrity. It might mean that someone goes to jail. Or that someone has to pay financially. (After all, as we humans know all too well, there are consequences to the bad choices we make.)
Finally, let’s also practice forgiveness. Maybe—just maybe—by following after Jesus we can help push society toward a sustainable future that reflects the character of God.
Our all for His grand plan for redemption and restoration? Wouldn’t that be something to see?
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For those who want to delve more deeply in to this subject, here’s some Scripture related to God’s plan for restoration through Christ:
Colossians 1:15-16 Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:19-20 For in Jesus all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
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