Sermon On Conservation

Dian Fossey, an American-born primatologist, conservationist and author of “Gorillas In The Mist.” once remarked: “When you realize the value of all life you dwell less on past and concentrate more on the conservation of the future.” Genesis 9:1-3 reminds us: And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”

Conservation is defined as prevention of a wasteful use of a resource. In today’s climate where vast quantities of trees are frequently removed for the purpose of providing wood for fuel, furniture and other items or to create space to build, then the need for conservation remains of paramount importance to protect the universe.

Trees are vital to the well-being of our planet. They produce oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil and give life to wildlife in our world. Deforestation is considered a major problem these days, especially for those who’s habitat is in the forests of so many countries. Jeremiah 17:8 states: “He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

The destruction of trees in large quantities can be damaging not only to the environment but to nature in general. Many species are dependent on the shade they provide or the fruit they produce to sustain life.

Apophenia is the tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things. Trees and mankind are two separate entities, but both provided by God. However, trees could be considered synonymous in their natural life-cycle to mankind and his life span. A tree is formed from a seed just as a baby is in the womb. It then becomes a seedling from which it grows into a young tree, just as a foetus grows into a baby, is born and after a short period of time becomes a child. After a further period, the tree grows into full maturity, just as a child grows into adulthood. After its fruitfulness has come to an end, trees become a snag and are often left to decompose naturally back to dust, just as a human fulfils the same cycle after death by cremation or interment back into the ground. Along the pathway of life, each entity performs its own defined purpose. Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 reminds us: “I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?”

For many years, gorillas, who often live naturally in forests or jungles have been subjected to harm and even death through the effects of unrestricted hunting, disease, loss of habitat and the conflicts of war. For many, they are now considered an endangered species. Their bodily parts such as heads, hands and feet have often been decapitated or cut off and sold to collectors throughout the world as possible magical charms. Research has shown that certain indigenous plants that grow in the regions where gorillas live, have been identified as beneficial in certain medical treatments for bodily ailments. It has now become apparent by research that gorillas also have the intelligence to identify these benefits that the plants provide and naturally include them in their normal diet. Herbs, leaves and the roots of many plants are known to help in the relief of common ailments such as colds and flu.

They can naturally help to relieve anxiety and other problems within the human body.

Solutions made up of these plants may be combined with other ingredients that help in rectifying minor skin problems or ailments. The reduction in these plants through deforestation is considered harmful to life and diminishes God’s earthly assets.

Throughout central and western Africa, apes are being killed primarily for the commercial trade of bushmeat. The bodily meat is used to supply luxury food in urban centres for the wealthy as a culinary delicacy, the same as Caviar may equally be regarded by some in other countries. In addition, gorillas are poached from within their natural habitat for the purpose of selling to illegal animal sanctuaries based abroad. There is much money to be gleaned by this unscrupulous trade. Proverbs 12:10 states: “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”