Genesis 9:8,11,13-15a – Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant." (NIV)

We live on a beautiful and exceptional planet. As far as we can tell, it's the only one that can sustain life as we know it. There may be other Earth-like planets in the universe, but this is the only one that we can presently call "home". We are dwelling on a precious, global jewel filled with an amazing variety of life forms. We are blessed with an abundance of species that make the Earth a remarkable place. All around us, we find the hallmarks of God Who loves to create all sorts of living beings. It is good to feel connected to our Creator Who wants us to enjoy His works.

At the end of Noah's story in the Bible, God reconnects with His beloved Earth and promises never to destroy it the same way. This covenant is something that God maintains as sacred, so we are called and invited to do the same. As human beings, we can be the most destructive life force on this planet, but as children of God, we can embrace God's holy promise and do whatever we are able to make the world a better place — environmentally and socially, as well as spiritually.

Perhaps, if we were also to remind ourselves of God's promise to the Earth each time we see a rainbow, we would be constantly inspired to make the changes necessary to bless the Earth with our care and keep it healthy, so that we can pass on a beautiful planet to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As with all of God's promises, it's left to us to freely uphold our side of the commitment. On this Earth Day, let us hope and pray that we will truly begin to embrace God's covenant with the Earth.

Points to ponder: What do I love most about the Earth? What am I willing to do to protect it?

Prayer: Almighty Creator of the heavens and the Earth, thank You for allowing us the joy of living in Your creation. Encourage us to sustain this beautiful blessing by taking care of this wonderful planet. In Your holy name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

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About the author:

John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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