Monday, April 25, 2003

Earth Day
By Bonnie Boer

“Every voice counts; every action matters. Earth Day is based on the simple philosophy that ordinary people, acting together, can achieve extraordinary things,” reads Earthday.net, the official website of Earth Day celebrants. This past Tuesday, April 22, the site encouraged us “to make a personal commitment to the earth in honor of Earth Day.” Using simple, emotionally charged phrases, e.g., “…by acting in concert, all over the planet, who says we can’t change the world?” environmentalists pressure the whole human race to get together and “make the world a better place.”

Does a Christian fit into this universal earth protection organization? It’s our duty to take a deeper look at the goals of our environmentalist society and aim to do all in accordance with the Holy Scriptures.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, He made everything perfect, pure, and for His pleasure. On the sixth day, our Creator made Adam, the father of the whole human race. Adam was given a special job, the care-taking of the animals God had formed and the sustaining and protection of the earth.

As Adam’s descendants, this profession is passed on to us, and we have to try our utmost to glorify God through the maintaining of His creation. This doesn’t mean we have to become ‘tree-huggers’ or join a worldly organization to regenerate the dead things of nature, but it does imply that we can do simple things to keep the earth clean; for example, not littering and not destroying nature for unnecessary purposes.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…(Colossians 1:16).

In Romans 1:20, we see that the wonder of Creation leaves the world without excuse. Creation is such an awesome wonder of our Lord that the basest of all men can look at nature’s design and see that there is a God who cares for His world. How then can the child of God destroy one of the means He uses to reveal Himself?

The people of the world realize the importance of caring for their “home.” But their ideas, rooted in Pantheist beliefs, cause them to worship the earth as their God. As Christians on a pilgrimage, we have to be stewards, and take care of what God has given us – not for the praise of men, but for the glorification of our Heavenly Sustainer.

The hills and vales, with verdure clad, Are girt with joy, the earth is glad, New life is all abroad; With feeding flocks the pastures teem, With golden grain the valleys gleam; All nature praises God. (Psalter, #169)

Where Is All My Money Going?
By Rachel Warner

Driving down the road, I take a quick glance at my gas gauge: “I’m on E! I just filled up a few days ago!” I then pull into the nearest gas station and pump my gas at about $1.439 a gallon. Before I know it, I’ve spent $20 just on gas.

Many of us new drivers, and those who have been at it for quite a while, wonder where all of this money is going. 37%, the largest portion of the cost of gas for Americans, goes to the crude-oil suppliers. This amount is determined by OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). Crude oil refining costs make up about 20% of what we’re paying. The price of transportation and marketing the gas adds up to slightly less than 10% of the price. Federal and local taxes take about 27% of our total. The gas station of our purchase also adds a few cents to the price so that it profits from the sale.

The next time we fill up on gas, we need to remember that our hard-earned cash is going to many more places than just the man sitting behind the counter at the gas station. We shouldn’t give him any dirty looks for the hole being burned in our pockets.

Big, Juicy Grapes
By Grace De Jong

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Rev. Kortering expounded very simply on this passage in his sermon Sunday night at South Holland PRC: Christians are to produce big, juicy grapes!

One cannot produce big, juicy grapes if he is not abiding in Christ, and does not have Christ abiding in him! If one is not praying, reading, and studying the Scriptures, how does that one expect to have the love of God manifested in his life? As individual Christains, we must do all things to attest that we love the Lord and want to bring glory to His name.

In order to show that we love the Lord, we must have fruit, that is, good works manifesting that love in our hearts. If we do love the Lord, we will live out of gratitude and thankfulness for the great work on the cross of engrafting us into His tree of life. The world must see that we are here to praise and glorify God’s name in all that we do and say.

I was reminded of the great love of Christ this past Easter Sunday. Have we forgotten the greatest truth found in the Scriptures, the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord? If Jesus had not died, risen, and ascended, our whole lives would be in vain! But thanks be to God who sent that one, true Sacrifice, Who took upon Himself the burden of our disgusting, horrible sins! What a wonder! What a miracle! May we never take for granted the gift of being a Christian! Thank God, Who gives us the grace to show this to the world. May we encourage each other to produce big, juicy grapes of thanksgiving, gratitude, and love to our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord!