Not to Condemn

But to save … the whole world!

Thursday 6 February 2025

Photo by Bob Gibbons SK Glacier

The Glaciers, and a lot else, are disappearing from the face of the earth.

Genesis 8:21

And when the Lord smelt the pleasing odour, the Lord said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.

John 3:17

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Words of Grace For Today

Noah offers sacrifice to God, and God turns, finds the sacrifice pleasing, and promises never again to curse the ground because of humankind, though the inclination of every heart is evil from our youth.

Not cursed, but it’s clear, we really don’t know how to give God God’s due.

Always grabbing for more, at others’ expense, and at our expense, and at the earth’s expense.

Trade war is only the latest in our own backyard.

But Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it or us.

I like to take John 3:16 and place it after John 13:17. It helps counter the so familiar v16 being so out of context.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Lots more context is really needed. There is no way we can all line up to believe, doing the right thing, making it right for ourselves with God.

Believing in Jesus is only possible if the Holy Spirit makes it so in us. We of course can refuse, back out, turn our back on it all. But no one can choose to turn to God. That’s all gift, given to us over, and over, and over again, by a God who loves us so.

Then we can, of course, choose to stop condemning others and the earth. That is what God wishes from us: a choice to love – as God loves – all creation.

Deceitful Brooks

Or People Gone Amok?

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Saskatchewan Glacier in Banff National Park melted by more than 10 metres in the past year, researchers say. By the end of the century, most of Saskatchewan Glacier will be gone, researcher says.

CBC 17 Oct 2021

Jeremiah 15:18

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.

Ephesians 3:11-13

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

Words of Grace For Today

The glaciers melt, fast.

The rivers grow shallower year by year.

The prairies through which they wind suffer drought year by year.

The farmers has less water to irrigate and crops have less water year by year.

Until it just doesn’t work out anymore.

The water is like a deceitful brook, drying up when we need it most,

right?

Or can we say this fits within God’s eternal plan, that we might suffer the lack of water for some greater purpose?

Is it punishment for our sins of overtaxing the land and the water and burning so much carbon fuel and being so greedy that we always want more, more, more?

Certainly looks like it!

And how can we survive?

Many ways, some ingenious, some simple and old fashion.

But most of all we trust God, for even if it is our demise that ‘fixes’ the water’s depletion (less of us, more time for the ecosphere and water to recover) in the meantime Jesus calls us to be faithful following him, serving others in their need.

What will it be today?