Day Fifteen - Will we pass the test?

Remembrance Sunday is generally not a day when we pause to think about Creation of the world. We are more likely to relate to death and destruction on this day, reflecting on and remembering those who lost their lives or those whose lives were changed for ever, through war.

But the Bible has so many wise words to help us make sense of a world that sometimes appears to have no sense and logic to it. Today I am drawing on some verses from Job to help us with this – Job 12:7-10.

Job was a good and prosperous man who was tested by Satan to see how strong his faith in God was. He faced numerous horrendous disasters, that took away everything that was important and dear to him, testing his faith to the limit. But he put His trust in God and held firm. There are some similarities with soldiers here and their families when they face danger, not knowing whether they will survive combat, often facing death and destruction. There must be times when they are tested to their limits. Yet they stand strong, trusting that they will be brought through and that they will be able to defend all that is important to justice and peace. We are in danger of having everything we hold dear taken away from us as we face a crisis in our world of astronomical proportions – the destruction of it.

Most of us can only imagine what soldiers in war go through, but we all face times in life when we are tested. Currently we are all facing up to the damage we have done to our world, and its potential destruction, and maybe Job wouldn’t necessarily be the words we might turn to. But within the Book of Job, we can find some valuable guidance. Job tells us:

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you". Job 12:7-8

That is a very clear instruction, to get out and look, listen, hear and act. We shouldn’t be in any doubt what God wants us to do. When the animals are saying that they have nowhere to live and nothing to eat, and the birds are saying they can’t land and breed because the earth is on fire, and the plants are saying they are struggling to grow, and the fish declare that they can’t breed fast enough to keep up with the demand we are placing on them, then surely we cannot continue to ignore what they are saying to us.

Our scientists study our world and we have only to turn on our televisions to find programmes that bring the natural world into our home. When we watch habitats being destroyed, and the resulting impact on the living creatures, including increased disease and diminishing numbers, how much more evidence do we need to spur us into action. What is the point of ‘asking the animals’ if we are going to ignore what they are telling us?

God never said it would be easy, in many ways He knows that we will find it difficult, maybe near impossible at times for us to make some of the relevant changes, but that shouldn’t stop us.

“Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hands is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.” Job 12:9-10

God made us keepers of His world. He wants us to do everything possible to care for it, nurture it and love it. Like Job we need to take hold fast and put our trust in God, take responsibility where we can and change our behaviour. We don’t need politicians to tell us to do that. We can all change if we want to, making the necessary changes, however small and insignificant you think they are. It’s like pennies in the bank - they all add up. We owe it to God, we owe it to those who lost their lives for us to have free will, and we owe it to ourselves. So do it, and do it now!

God our Creator, we are going to need your help probably more than we have ever needed it before. Our treatment of the planet has been unacceptable, even diabolical.

Don’t accept our often half-hearted and feeble efforts, but push us to up our game, and to do more to save and nurture your world. Help us to not just talk but act, and act through you Lord, so that what we do benefits your kingdom.

We pray to you for strength and ask that you help us. Amen

Kathy Shaw