Christmas is not typically a time when we consider the problems with our planet, its climate and environment. But the Advent of Jesus Christ means redemption not only for the souls of men, but for the planet itself. For thousands of years planet Earth has suffered from the corrosive impact of sin. Sin corrupted even the animals and the physical creation itself. Things had gone horribly wrong for our planet.
But the Advent of the Savior, God’s son, brings hope and joy. Psalms 96 and 98 teach that the physical creation rejoiced in anticipation of his Advent. Read these words from Psalm 98:7-9:
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Jesus made this planet for the glory and honor of his Father! Nothing was made apart from his hand (John 1:3). So, from the time when sin invaded the perfect creation it began to long for the loving hand of its Creator to make things whole again. Praise God that he is doing just that!
The Christmas Carol, “Joy to the World”, gets it right! Heaven and nature sing together and repeat the sounding joy: the Savior Reigns!