For
[even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs
earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing
of their sonship” Romans 8:19
When the Bible says that all creation waits in eager
expectation for the revelation of the sons of God, it has exciting and
frightening ramifications. I think I understand what it means in a deeper way because
of a few trips that I have taken with English Language School. During a trip to Monkey Town, and
also during a trip to refuge for abused primates, I heard similar stories
about two different primates who had been taught to drink. One was a monkey who
became an alcoholic like his human master. When the man died, the monkey was
taken to Monkey Town where he was rehabilitated, but today still shows signs of
his abuse. He abuses his wife and children, according to the guide. When he
first arrived, he had the shakes and other identifiable traits of addicts.
The other was a chimpanzee who both drunk and smoked. He was taken to taverns and was made to drink for
the sport of those who would pay, as he put on this sick display. Cruel humans thought
that it was funny to exploit him in this way. To this day he displays great hostility and violence.
In addition, I have seen footage of animals that wait for
fruit to ripen and fall from trees. As the fruit drops to the ground, it begins to ferment. Some animals don't even have the patience to wait for the process to be completed. They consume so much of the fermented fruit they
get tipsy and even fall down drunk during this season, staggering through the forest. I do not believe that these
behaviors are indicative of the conduct that God intended from the animal
kingdom, but as sin has encroached into their domain as well, we see the
results of the fall of man. It makes you wonder who needs to be caged and rehabilitated.
But what if we influenced the earth for good? What if
creation's anxious waiting revealed a people anxious to do good, to protect the
animals and their habitats? People who did not care about their own selfish
pursuits more than obeying the first mandate given: to care and maintain
guardianship over the earth. Genesis 1:28 states, “God
blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky
and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
It is not only unbelievers who act in ways that are
egregious towards creation. It is not just alcoholics and circus trainers who maim
primates; it is large corporations that pollute our waters and environment; it’s the
simple citizen who litters, who doesn’t recycle; that individual leaves a large
carbon foot print on the earth. But when, we walk or bike instead of drive, put our rubbish
in the compost heap, we are saying that we value the gift of creation God has
given us.
Who really should lead the way of protecting the animal
kingdom and the environment? The children of God of course. He gave us the
responsibility, didn’t He? One day, the lion will lie down with the lamb. There will be a day
when there is no more death- animal or human on God’s holy hill. The wolf and
the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust
will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy
mountain," says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:25). How I am bringing His kingdom to
the earth now? How do I reduce the enmity between man and beast?
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