Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

In the 1970’s the Environmentalist Movement began. It is when, some believe, recycling began. But, recycling has been around a lot longer than that.

My Grandfather was an incredible recycler. Having grown up in the depression era nothing went to waste. Anything we had left after a meal (that we couldn’t eat) went into the compost heap (to be used as fertilizer for the garden) or, if appropriate, it was fed to the animals. If an old radio broke he saved every wire, screw and knob. And, he was organized. Every size screw in it’s own jar, every size wire on its appropriate hook, etc.

But, we could trace recycling back even further than the depression, if we did our research.

A more important question than when did recycling begin is, As followers of Christ, should we be committed to environmental issues, recycling and the preservation of the earth?

On one hand we know, from various verses, that the earth will not last forever. It will be destroyed and there will be a new earth. “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. Psalm 102:25-26. But does that mean we should have no regard for God’s creation?

Are we not called to be good stewards of all that God has given us? “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10.

In Genesis 1:26 & 28 we see that God gave man dominion over every living thing on the earth. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28.

Does that mean that we can destroy anything that we want, whenever we want? Dominion means to care for and have charge over. So would recycling not be part of caring for the environment and would it not be a part of stewarding well, what God has given us? Of course it would.

But, unlike the way the world thinks, environmental issues cannot consume us. No issue, apart from sharing Christ with others, so that they could be rescued from the enemy’s grip, should consume us.

And, are we not to mimic the ways of our Savior? “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21.

Did our Savior not take refuse and turn it into usable material? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

I assure you…I am proof that God recycles!

Yes, this earth and all living creatures were given us by god. Yes, we are to be good stewards. Yes, we should do our part to care for and steward well our environment, as well as how we spend our money, our time, etc.

But the most important concern for a follower of Jesus Christ, should be the will of our Heavenly Father and the souls of those around us, just as they were our Savior. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

God takes sinful creatures incapable of Godly love and doing good (“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,.” Romans 3:23″) and through the shed blood of our Savior we are drawn into repentance (“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9), He turns us into mighty tools used for His glory and the rescuing of others who do not know Him. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV.

He is the Greatest Recycler….I am eternal living proof!

I pray that today we would praise our loving Heavenly Father, that He has chosen to recycle us. I pray that we would be mighty tools that He would use to reflect His glory and to draw those who do not know Him, into a saving relationship with Himself through our Precious Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that we would revel in the new creation He has made in us and the fact that He would have any use for us at all, let alone to glorify Himself – The God of All Creation. Oh, how we stand in awe of and love you Father!

If you do not know the miracle of being made a new creation, through repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. He loves you and desires a personal relationship with you. I promise you that you will be glad that God recycles.

Luv Ya!