The effect of sin upon the land and God’s grace
Our sins pollute the land, and it seems there are limits to how much
it can take. These Scriptures show that all of creation longs for
the return of Christ. God also says that we are ambassadors in
Christ, so as we walk in nature singing praise or quietly walking
with Him, how are the surroundings effected? Would prayer and a
reminder that Christ is coming make a difference even to our
environment?
Leviticus 18:24 ‘Do not defile
yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are
defiled which I cast out before you. And the land is defiled;
therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomits
out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My
judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any
of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you (for all
these abominations have the men of the land done, who were before you,
and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when
you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
Jeremiah 3:1 They say, If a man divorces his
wife, and she goes from him, and become another man's, may he return
to her again? would not that land be greatly polluted? but you have
played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith the
LORD. 2 Lift up your eyes unto the high places, and see where you have
not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them, like an Arabian
in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with your harlotries
and your wickedness.
Numbers 35:33 So you shall not pollute the land
where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be
made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the
blood of him who shed it. Therefore do not defile the land which you
inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the
children of Israel.’"
Psalm 106:38 They even sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of
their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their
own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds.
Jeremiah 12:10 "Many rulers have destroyed My
vineyard, They have trodden My portion underfoot; They have made My
pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land
is made desolate, because no one takes it to heart.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the
creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him
who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and
labors with birth pangs together until now.
Genesis 3:17 Cursed is the ground for your sake
2 Cor 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on
Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in
Him.
Romans 10:15 "How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the Gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good
things!"
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me
with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of
righteousness,
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then
good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
