Sermon On The Concepts Of Nature

Sylvia Plath, an American poet and author once remarked: “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery - air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.” Job 12:7-10 reminds us: “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

Nature has been defined as the collective nonpareil of the physical world. It includes plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. Understanding nature, and all of its concepts, is deemed to help significantly in our learning and connection with God. It has been purported from a solely scientific perspective that nature does not have a “conscious purpose.” It is considered a natural phenomenon governed by physical laws, not driven by intentionality. But what is a conscious purpose?

A "conscious purpose" with regard to Mother Earth, refers to an interconnection amidst a deliberate and mindful objective within the natural world, recognizing the unification of all living things and actively seeking to function in a way that supports the health and balance of ecosystems. It is often driven by a sense of responsibility and purposeful management of the environment. It effectively, and consciously appraises the impact of one's actions on nature beyond just personal needs, or convenience. Many humans often interpret nature as having a distinct purpose due to its vital role in sustaining life, providing resources like air, water, and food, and contributing to a well-being through experiences like beauty and tranquility. Nehemiah 9:6 reminds us: “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”

It is a pertinent factor that the beauty of nature is unparalleled, and its purpose, despite the thinking of some, has to contribute to the well-being of all. God is unlikely to have created anything without a conscious purpose. Genesis 1:1- 25 reminds us: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night.

And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights - the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night - and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.