Creation Care as Witness

April 27, 2025 homily on Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:20 and Luke 12:27-28 by Pastor Galen

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” – Psalm 19:1-2

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” –  Romans 1:20a

Creation Testifies to God’s Glory 

The verses above tell us that creation is a powerful testimony to God’s, majesty, grandeur, and power. Ever since the word was created, people have looked at the world around them and concluded that there must be a God. (Did you know there are no historically atheistic cultures?) Even if people didn’t know exactly who God was, all they had to do was look at the world around them to know that there must be a Creator.

Think about the house or apartment building that you live in. Do any of us know who designed or built the house we live in? Most of us probably don’t. And yet, we know that there was someone who designed it, someone who built or assembled it.

Mark Cahill, in his book One Heartbeat Away (BDP Publishing, 2007), says, “We know that you don’t just gather some concrete, pipes, windows, paint, wires, etc., then turn around and look back to suddenly find a building. A building requires a builder.”

In the same way, he says,

“…The sun, the moon, the stars, the oceans, the sand, each unique snowflake, the three billion pieces of your DNA that are different from mine, are absolute proof that there had to be a Creator of this universe.” …Just because you can’t see, touch, taste, smell, or hear the builder of a skyscraper doesn’t mean that such a person doesn’t exist. You don’t need any amazing faith to believe there was a builder of a building you can see; you just need to look at the evidence and make an informed decision. And the best piece of evidence you could have is the work that builder left behind. The same holds true for the God of this universe. The evidence left for us to look at is all the evidence we will ever need in order to know that our universe has a Creator” (p. 18).

When we observe the intricacies of the human body, when we consider the vastness of the universe, when we experience the beauty of creation, and even when we hear the birds sing, we know that there must be a Creator. And we are struck with awe and wonder at the greatness and majestry and creativity of our Creator. 

As the hymn writer wrote,

Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,  I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Creation Care as a Form of Witness

Given all of this, then, I would propose that caring for creation and helping others experience the beauty and the wonder of creation can be a form of evangelism, because when we care for creation, we are helping to preserve one of the most powerful witnesses to the goodness and greatness of our Creator.

Think about it. When we see trash along the side of the road, are we inclined to think about the majesty of our Creator? No, instead we’re disgusted by the mess. So when we pick up trash, and when we beautify a park or street, we’re helping others to better see the beauty and wonder and majesty of this world, and to give praise to our Creator.

The same is true when we find ways to cut down on pollution. Not only do we help make the world safer and healthier for people, plants, and animals, but we also make it easier for all of us to behold the beauty of the skies, which the Psalmist says, “pour forth speech” and “declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1-2). 

Gardening, too, can be a wonderful way to showcase the beauty and majesty of creation. Pulling weeds and planting flowers or vegetables can be a tangible way for us to connect with our Creator and help others experience the beauty of Creation.

What about helping to preserve endangered species? Each plant and animal that exists on this earth testifies to God’s glorious creativity. Every individual species and every individual bird and animal and plant testifies to God’s loving care. When we work to preserve endangered species, we’re helping to preserve a valuable witness to God’s glory.

Words and Deeds

Of course, Creation Care as a form of evangelism is not sufficient in and of itself. Our actions must be accompanied by words if we want to help others see and understand exactly who God is. Otherwise, they may be left with some vague notion that there is a divine being who designed the world, but they wound’t get to know God personally. We must use words and images to tell the story of Jesus, who is the manifestation of God’s love and presence in this world.

Talking about creation can be a good starting point. Think about Jesus, who pointed to the lilies of the field as an example and illustration of God’s care and concern for us as people in Luke 12:27-28. And think about the hymn writers and poets and psalmists who used their words to help others understand how the various aspects of creation can help us understand God’s love and care.

Practical Applications:

So what exactly can we do to help preserve and protect the environment as a form of witness to God’s glory? Well, the applications will look different for each and every one of us. But here are a few starting points:

1. First, I would encourage each of us to find ways to interact with nature on a regular basis. Maybe it’s taking a daily walk — even just for a few minutes. Maybe it’s gardening, or taking pictures of nature, or opening your window shade for a few minutes  each day to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Enjoying nature can be a wonderful way to connect with our Creator. 

2. Look for small ways that you can help others see and experience the goodness of God as evidenced in creation. Maybe it’s committing to picking up one piece of trash in front of your house or apartment building each day. Maybe it’s choosing to walk or ride a bike or taking the bus or light rail instead of driving to help cut down on carbon emissions. Maybe it’s choosing to buy more local produce rather than processed food that’s been shipped halfway around the world.

3. Consider how you might use your words to help others understand more about the God who created our world. Perhaps it’s through telling your own story of how God has impacted your life. Perhaps it’s through writing stories or poems, or sharing encouraging Scripture verses on Facebook. Perhaps it’s inviting someone to come to church or Bible study or one of our community events so that they too can get to know the God who created and designed each and every one of us, and the beautiful world that we inhabit.

Conclusion:

And so today, may we take a few moments to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation. May we commit or recommit ourselves to preserving or protecting this powerful form of witness to the beauty and majesty of God. And may we invite others to know the love and mercy of our God, expressed most clearly through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Amen!