I thoroughly enjoy being out doors in nature. I love watching TV nature channels such as National Geographic Explorer, The Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel, Equator, and much more. I enjoy seeing all kinds of nature shows that focus on the landscape, nature, different countries, and all of creation. At the top of this blog I continue to put nature pictures that I have taken. The one at the top of the page right now is that of the mountains of Honduras that I took while we were on a mission trip in July ‘06 with our church family here at Community. When our family goes on vacation we will usually go to a theme park or two but my favorite vacations are our times together at the beach or in the mountains. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
I shared in my sermon this past week an experience that I had while on vacation with my family last summer at the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. We noticed that this was a beach where sea turtles laid their eggs in the dark of night. Also, we heard that some of the turtles had begun to hatch. When these turtles hatch in the night they will follow the moonlight which will lead them to the ocean. The problem is that some of them get disoriented and lost by the streetlights and the lights from the hotels and condos along the beach. When the turtles follow these man made lights they will eventually either die lost in the sun or be eaten by a predator such as the seagulls. I got up one early morning and went for a walk on the beach just before sunrise when I discovered, along with a few other early risers, some lost turtles a long way from shore. Some people picked up the wayward baby turtles and took them to the water and others of us showed them the way toward the sea and encouraged them to walk to the shore and we also protected them from the seagulls. It was very rewarding and thrilling to watch these tired turtles finally make it to the water and disappear in the waves. Here is a picture of the one very tired looking turtle that I helped and other pictures of the turtles that we helped to finally make it back to the shore.
In one part of the new member class that I teach here at Community I share that God has created us, from among other things, to love us and to manage all of creation. In Genesis 1:28-31 we read, “Then God blessed them [Adam & Eve] and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.’ And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!’” (NLT) When we are out in nature and soak in all it’s beauty and marvel at it’s complexity we are joining God in saying, “It is good!” God gave us our world not only for us to enjoy and through which to experience His glory and majesty but we are also given the responsibility to manage all of creation. As Christians, we should be leaders in making this planet the healthiest that it can be. As Christians we are stewards of this planet. God has given us the awesome privilege of saving turtles. It was an amazing joy to not just watch the turtles on a beautiful HD TV. I got to be there first hand and be a steward of God’s creation. This is just one very small way that we can take care of this planet.
We have not only been given the responsibility to save this planet but we have also been given the responsibility to point people to Jesus Christ who will save people from sin and an eternity of separation from God. Just as I pointed the turtles to the destination for which they were created so we are to point people to our Savior. These poor turtles were lost at night as they followed street lights and lights from condos instead of the true light, the moonlight that would lead them to their true home in the ocean. So also we are called to point people to the true light, Jesus Christ, through whom they will enter into a relationship with God. When Adam and Eve sinned all of creation was shattered, both nature and ourselves. Also, our relationship with God experienced a divorce as we left God. Just as we are to redeem or restore creation’s beauty and health as God meant for it to be in the Garden of Eden so also we are to point people back to our Redeemer and Creator who will recreate in us a new and clean heart (Psalm 51:10).
What an awesome God that we serve who has invited us to not only save this planet but to also point people to Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls.
3 Comments
April 15, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Beautiful. A very “timely” message. Thank you. Somehow the music from “Chariots of Fire” played in my head as I imagined those precious little turtles racing for the ocean….
April 15, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I love that music and I can just hear it as the turtles are plodding along the shoreline.
April 20, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Mike,
I have been fortunate to be able to experience both sides of the little turtles journey. The nature preserve at Cape Canaveral has tours at night to watch the huge turtles laying their eggs. It is absolutly amazing. After the females start making their nest, they will not stop until they are done. I have also seen the little guys hatch and make their journey to the water. Talk about the little engine that could! when the finally get to the water, the surf rolls them over and spits them back on the shore. You would think that they would just give up, but they dont. They keep at it till they make it. I am a nature fanatic myself. Thanks for the environmental message.