We read in Genesis 1:4, “God saw the light that it was good.” Further, “God called the dry land Earth and the gathering of the waters, He called seas and God saw that it was good” (verse 10); “The earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (verse 12); “God made two great lights – the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule the night…and God saw that it was good” (verse 16-18); “God created great whales and every living creature that moves…after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good” (verse 21); “God made the beast of the earth…the cattle…and every thing that creeps upon the earth…and God saw that it was good” (verse 25). In conclusion of God viewing His good creation, we read in verse 31, “God saw every thing that He had made and, behold, it was very good.”
Can we read about the creation and God’s satisfaction with His creation and think that it was anything less than good? The dictionary describes “good” as “best, having the right qualities,” “excellent,” “right” or “as it ought to be.” God used the highest standards for His creation; there were no flaws. Think about this; there is only one “o” that keeps “God” and “good” from being the same word. God created only good.
So what has gone wrong? We look at the world around us and see things that are no longer just “good.” What happened was that men began to listen to Satan instead of to God. Oh, all of God’s creation is still beautiful and excellent, but it’s just that men, prompted by Satan, have marred the beauty.
When we decided to move back to north Arkansas, one of the professors where Alice was working said, “Oh, you’re moving to beautiful Batesville on the banks of the beautiful White River.” That’s the kind of impression people normally have about the Batesville area. Yet, let me ask those of you who live here, “Have you noticed how the streets of beautiful Batesville and the banks of the beautiful White River have been trashed by men’s litter?” If you haven’t noticed, just head toward Southside and, right after you cross the river, look to the left across the field. The field is just a sampling of how much litter and trash is being thrown out. The farmer is not to blame; he did his job. He got his crop out and bush-hogged what was left and the field looked good and clean, but it’s not now!
Perhaps you remember a long-ago TV commercial of an old Indian crying because of the litter that men were scattering upon the earth. When I see how men are trashing God’s beautiful world, it makes me want to join the old Indian with my own tears. It’s disgraceful. From the beginning, Satan has been able to trick men to get them to do evil. Evil, as described in the dictionary, is “bad,” “wrong,” “sinful” and “wicked.” When you say or hear that something/someone is “bad,” you know that it means the opposite of “good.” “Evil” is opposite of the “good” that God created.
We can rest assured that one day those who have treated God’s creation with disdain will have to answer for their deeds. David spoke of those “who speak peace to their neighbors but mischief is in their hearts; give them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their doings…because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of His hands, He will destroy them” (Psalm 28:3ff). The prophet Isaiah said almost the same thing in Isaiah 5:12; “They regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of His hands.” Paul told the Roman brethren, “He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord and he that does not regard the day does not regard it to the Lord” (Romans 14:6). Those who care about what happens daily will regard the work of the Lord and respect His creation and will want to preserve and not trash it. Paul wrote in verse 12, “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” In all ways, every one of us will be accountable to God for our actions; that includes what efforts we give toward making His beautiful creation an ugly one. Folks, respect God’s “very good” creation and help keep it beautiful!
