Thank you, Aby for sharing this powerful and important message. I often refer to Genesis 2:15 as the greatest privilege and responsibility that God gave to humanity. God put Adam in the garden to “work it and take care of it“. God has put us all in a garden which includes the environment we find ourselves living in, to work and to take care of it. This is our greatest responsibility. But God also said “you are free to eat“ implying that we have the greatest privilege of enjoying God‘s creation within the boundaries that he has set of responsibility, not to exploit, not for selfish gain, but for God‘s provision , God‘s praise and God’s given pleasure. But as you rightfully point out the pollution of the soul is “sin”, and it is this pollution that entered the garden through man’s rebellious and self-serving choice. Sin has the middle letter “I“ and the curse of selfishness has infected all of humanity and all of God’s good creation. There are many things we can try and do to take care of our environment, but the ultimate cure and beginning of all motivation must be “reconciliation” with God and submission to his will, his purpose and his pleasure. Only Christ can provide this reconciliation with God through His atoning sacrifice for sin, and his atonement bring us back to a right relationship with God and with his creation. Christ lived as a true “Son“ of the Father of all creation, not seeking his own interest, but the interest of “others”(not living according to the middle letter “I” of sin, but according to the middle letter of “o” in Son). Jesus destroyed the selfish “I” of sin through the unselfish and self-giving sacrifice of his life for others. Through Christ’s atonement and faith in Him, we can be made a new creation, “born again”with a new nature that gives us the power and ability to live for God and take care of our garden, “not seeking our own interest, but the interest of others” to the praise of God’s grace. As a believer in Christ and through the power of His Holy Spirit we have been given a “new nature” and “Spirit of adoption” into Christ’s sonship as the “children of God”. And as His children, we have a divine responsibility and privilege to serve and enjoy God unselfishly in this life and in the garden he has given us. Christians can and should make a difference in how we live here and now in this world and our environment. But our ultimate hope is knowing that God will one day make a new heaven and a new earth, where all the effects of sin and the pollution of “I” rebellion has been removed. Revelation 21 is our ultimate hope and confidence. But until then, it is our privilege and responsibility to live for God and serve him in his good creation & the garden He has put us in faithfully. PS - Love and prayers from Darren and family in Canada
