Earth Day & Evolution

This weekend is Earth Day.  Millions across the globe will recognize and honor the environment while doubling down on their efforts to protect climate change.  Should Christians celebrate Earth Day?  I argue no.  I do not mean to belittle the importance of the earth, as it belongs to the Lord (Psalms 24:1).  I also do not believe we should be irresponsible with our world as the Lord has given humanity dominion over it (Genesis 1:26).  Just as we should not neglect and mistreat our bodies, neither should we the earth. My aim in writing this is to help shape in you a biblical worldview.  People’s worldview is the lens through which they see truth from error and right from wrong.  The lens through which you see the world is important and may well determine where you spend eternity. So while my purpose is not to belittle the earth, the intended purpose is to warn us against worshiping creation over the Creator. Exchanging the Truth of God for a Lie It is shocking how many people today do not believe God created the heavens and the earth. Even more surprising is how many Christians no longer believe in the Biblical account of creation, but instead, have folded under the false pretenses of evolution. The so-called science of evolution is shoved upon our culture many subtle ways. My children are quite young, and I am surprised at how much evolution is taught even in the cartoons they watch. Evolution is one of the greatest lies Satan has used to deceive humanity. Why is evolution so wrong to hold to? It is because it diminishes God and His glory. If Satan can cause people to be blind to the fact that God created all things and is therefore, the owner of all things, then why would we fear the Lord, respect Him, or worship Him? When you take away truth, all that is left is a lie and evolution is a dangerous lie with eternal consequences. Carefully read Romans 1:25, “They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” Can you see how insulting it is to the Almighty to love and worship His creation more so than the Creator? God as Creator What would you suppose that God would say to those who are intelligent, analytical and even scientific, yet they do not believe in Him as Creator? I think he would say to people like this what He said to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much” (Job 38:4). God does not need you nor I to believe in Him. According to Acts 17:25, “And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Can you see how God is not in a position of weakness? You may be reading this and doubting every sentence and every scripture, but that does not change the sovereignty of the Almighty! Consider Isaiah 42:5, “This is what God the Lord says – the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.” Isaiah 42:12 continues, “I made the earth and created man on it; it was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” Do you view God as the owner of all things? God as Judge As noted earlier, if a person does not acknowledge God as their Creator, then they will most certainly not recognize God as their Judge. The Bible has a great deal to say about how the earth will one day be destroyed. How foolish it is to worship nature and ignore, offend, and insult the Creator! Notice what Peter teaches in 2 Peter 3:10 concerning the future of the earth, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” While the earth will pass away, your soul will remain forever. Are you prepared to stand before God as Judge? Peter goes on to warn us that God did not spare angels when they sinned. He did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought the flood upon the world of the ungodly. He turned Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (2 Peter 2:4-7). Is your life ungodly? What will you do when you stand before God to give an account for yourself? On that day, it will not matter how many trees you saved or how many items you recycled or how conscience you were about the earth. All that will matter is what you have done with Jesus. Responding to the Gospel When Paul first came to the city of Athens in Acts 17, we see that he presented the gospel by showing how God is the creator of the world. The Bible goes on to say in verses 30-32, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now, Paul preached this over 2,000 years ago, but the incredible thing is that the gospel never changes, and neither does the condition of the human heart. So when the gospel encounters a person’s heart, just as it is yours right now, our heart will respond in one of three ways. Notice how Paul’s audience in Athens reacted to the gospel. “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed…” (Acts 17:32-34). These people did not mock Paul’s sermon, they mocked the idea of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the heart and power of the gospel. Even so today, some will mock the gospel. There were some who were intrigued. They said, “We will hear you again about this.” They delayed because they were not serious about following Jesus Christ. You may be in the same boat, but let me warn you that being intrigued by Jesus is not belonging to Him. Having an interest in spiritual things is not the same as having your heart and life changed by Christ. Do not delay in putting your faith in Jesus! Then there were some who believed. Praise God that in every generation, in every culture, in every language God has His people. Are you among those who belong to Him? “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:19).