Why is creation suffering?

Are you concerned with global warming or the problems with pollution? I am. Please let me be really honest—I’m an outdoors kind of guy. I’m saddened to see bottles and plastic on the side of a hiking trail or the road. It’s frustrating to see the air quality in places like India, China, and America reach levels that are not safe for people or animals.

I’ve traveled around the world and can report that the U.S. and Canada have taken some amazing steps to finally care for our planet, God’s creation. I’m also a Christian who believes that we’ve been given creation to steward and care for. The Bible says, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, NKJV)  

Do you know that creation suffers because of neglect and pollutants but also for another reason? The Bible says, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:20-21, NIV)

Did you know that you and I can be redeemed by Jesus? He can reconcile our souls and spirits, but creation is still waiting for the big day. Creation is still broken because of the fall. God said to Adam, “‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,” Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life.’” (Genesis 3:17, NIV) and “‘but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:17, NIV)

Creation had been perfect but was no longer. Our bodies were healthy and perfect, but disobedience ruined all that until the day when God will give us new bodies, a new Earth, and new heavens. God has a great plan, and you are part of it because you are a miracle.