Sermon: John 1:1-5,9-14
“Stewarding Our Relationship with God's Creation”
September 15, 2024
Pastor Veronica Alvarez
Dear siblings, what a blessing it is to gather here, in the midst of God's creation, surrounded by the natural beauty He has entrusted to us. Here, under the open sky, among the trees and with the birds singing, it is easy to feel connected to the world God created. This environment invites us to reflect on our relationship with creation and our responsibility to care for it, not only for our benefit, but for the good of future generations. Over the past few weeks, we have explored how we steward our relationship with God and with each other. Today, we continue this series by focusing on our responsibility to care for the creation God has given us.
Two weeks ago, we talked about the importance of our relationship with God as the basis for all our actions. In Genesis, (1:26-31) we see that God created us in His image and gave us the responsibility to rule over His creation. This mandate of “dominion” does not mean exploitation, but stewardship. Our relationship with God calls us to care for His creation with the same love and respect He shows us. If we are aligned with God, our desire will be to protect and preserve what He has made, recognizing the goodness in all that He has created.
Last week, we reflected on how we steward our relationships with others. In Colossians, (1:15-20) Paul reminds us that Christ is the firstborn of all creation, and that everything was created through Him and for Him. This truth puts us in a broader perspective: our care for creation is not just a matter of survival or comfort, but an act of worship and respect for Christ, who sustains all things. Every tree, every river, every creature reflects the glory of God and our relationship with them reflects our relationship with God.
If we truly love others as Christ loves us, then we will care for the world we share. Caring for creation is not just an individual task, but a communal effort. We must work together to protect and preserve the environment for our families, neighbors and future generations. Our responsibility to each other includes ensuring that everyone has access to a healthy and sustainable environment.
The Gospel of John (1:1-5,9-14) presents Christ as the Word, through whom all things were made. He is the true Light that illuminates all human beings. Christ Light not only illuminates our lives, but also illuminates creation itself, revealing its purpose and beauty. When we neglect creation, we are extinguishing that light that should shine in the world. Our calling is to allow that light to shine in the world, by maintaining and protecting God's creation so that it continues to reflect His glory.
Today, in this natural environment, we can feel more connected to God's creation and more aware of the impact of our actions.
Pollution, deforestation, and climate change are realities that remind us that our stewardship of creation has been imperfect. We are cutting down forests at an alarming rate for timber, deforestation not only destroys natural habitats and threatens wildlife but also contributes to climate change by releasing large amounts of carbon stored in trees. Oceans and rivers are increasingly polluted by industrial waste, plastics, and chemicals. This pollution damages marine life and affects the health of the human communities that depend on these water resources.
But we are also surrounded by hope, by the beauty that still exists and that we can preserve. Being in this place also offers us hope and an opportunity for change. As we look to our children and grandchildren, we must ask ourselves: What kind of world are we leaving them? How can they experience the same beauty we see today?
Our faith calls us to be good stewards, not only of our lives and relationships, but also of the world God has created. This means we must make conscious decisions to protect and preserve creation. We could start with everyday actions:
We can Minimize the use of disposable plastics, reuse items whenever possible and recycle properly to reduce the amount of waste reaching landfills and oceans. Conserving energy, turn off lights and appliances when not in use, use energy efficient light bulbs and consider renewable energy sources such as solar panels in our homes. Reduce water consumption at home by using shorter showers, repairing leaks, installing water saving devices and collecting rainwater for irrigation.
We can also Support leaders and policies that promote environmental protection and work to ensure that laws and regulations protect the land, air and water to ensure a sustainable future for all.
As you can see, each of us can make a significant contribution to the preservation of the planet. These actions, though seemingly small, have a cumulative impact that can help reverse the damage done and ensure a healthy world for future generations.
Siblings in Christ, God has given us a beautiful gift in His creation, a gift that reflects His love, power and creativity. As we steward our relationship with this creation, let us remember that we are not alone. Christ, through whom all was created, walks with us, guiding us in our responsibility to be good stewards.
May we be faithful in this task, so that our children and grandchildren may look back and see a world that continues to reflect God's glory.
Amen.
