Many peoples and communities around the world will be celebrating Earth Day this weekend, including churches and other religious gatherings. Those who follow Jesus Christ have a unique opportunity during such an observance to point people to Scripture — to show how the Bible is imbued not only with celebrations of God’s creation, but also with creation’s celebration of its Creator.
In theological terms, you may have heard the phrase “general revelation” or “natural revelation,” which is, in short, knowledge gleaned about God by our observations of the natural world — his expressions of love, creation, power, beauty. Though a secular holiday, on Earth Day Christ-followers are called to remember that we’re caretakers of that which God has given us. We’re called to remember that we should treat the Earth — soil, water, and life — like the gift it is. And then, yes, to realize that it’s possible to misuse this gift and to take it for granted as we’re so apt to do even with the unparalleled treasure of God’s freely given salvation.
That’s also why it’s fitting that Earth Day falls so close to Easter (some years closer than others). On Easter, as Jesus emerges from the tomb and shows his resurrection body to the disciples, he affirms the goodness of the whole creation which was made through him, and renews his promise to someday renew the earth — forever.
So, far from being political, Earth Day is a reminder that the least we could do is open our eyes, learn something about God, and see how his creations point to his Word and vice-versa. Every aspect of life can draw us into the Word. Jesus speaks to us through Scripture and creation.
Here are 10 verses you might read and contemplate throughout the weekend that sing the Creator’s praises in relation to his creation. (We have provided them in a variety of different Bible translations; click on each verse reference to open it in your own favorite version.)
God Made Everything (and It Is Good)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. — John 1:3 (KJV)
And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
— Genesis 1:31 (NASB) (Read the whole chapter)
The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord;
the earth and all who live on it are his.
— Psalm 24:1 (GNT)
In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
— Psalm 95:4-5 (NKJV)
O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.
— Psalm 104:24-25 (ESV)
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 42:5 (NIV)
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
— Job 38:4-7 (NLT) (Read God’s whole speech to Job)
By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
— Hebrews 11:3 (CEB)
God Cares for His Creation…
“The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.”
— Isaiah 41:17-18 (NIV)
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
— Matthew 6:26-30 (NRSVUE)
…and Asks Us to Care for It, Too
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
— Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
The earth mourns and fades,
the world languishes and fades;
both heaven and earth languish.
The earth is polluted because of its inhabitants,
for they have transgressed laws, violated statutes,
broken the ancient covenant.
Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants pay for their guilt;
Therefore they who dwell on earth have dwindled,
and only a few are left.
— Isaiah 24:4-6 (NABRE)
Creation Celebrates Its Creator — and Points to Him
Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it roar!
Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!
Then all the trees of the forest too
will shout out joyfully
— Psalm 96:11-12 (CEB)
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. — Romans 1:20 (NLT)
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind.”
— Job 12:7-10 (ESV)
God Will Bring a New Creation
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
— Revelation 21:1 (CSB)
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
— Isaiah 43:19 (NRSVUE)
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