Psalm 24
I’m not getting back to 2 Peter as quickly as I anticipated. Maybe a side lesson in that is this: Once you stray, return is difficult.
Fact is, though, I was only going to read Psalm 24, not comment. But verse 6 gripped me.
- The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
- For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
- Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
- He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
- He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
- This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
That’s my generation! I may be a Baby Boomer, but that generational identity is secondary for me. (Actually, it doesn’t even rank that high.) I declare myself part of Generation Seek. Call me a Generation Seeker, if you will, or the trendier GenSeeker.
But now I got ahead of myself. Come to think of it, though — did I? Maybe not. In fact, because I am a GenSeeker, I embrace the following paragraphs…
The earth is God’s. So is everything in it.
We must use the earth and its “contents” as managers, not owners. God gave us this planet and its treasures as a stewardship. Let’s not undervalue it or trash it or neglect it. The disciple of Jesus ought to be the most responsible caretaker of the environment. He does so because of his heart for and nearness to the Everlasting Father, not because of some affinity for and loyalty to “Mother Earth.”
The Christian conservationist and environmental steward is also God’s. “The earth is the LORD’s…and they that dwell therein.” As I use and manage the planet, so should I use and manage me — body, soul, and spirit — life, time, energy, strength, attention, values, thoughts. Me.
God gave me my life (and the body to “hold” it) in stewardship. I must use it as a manager, not an owner. I am a steward who shall some day be called to account. (Or is it even more accurate and thought-provoking to say that every day I’m called to account?)
I am a GenSeeker. I am a steward and a disciple, an “ownee” and a seeker, who desires to live with the growing awareness of being continually in God’s presence.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?”
- Those with clean hands and pure hearts.
- Those who have not committed themselves to the vain pursuit of the emptiness of vanity.
- Those whose witness is true and trustworthy, entirely consistent with God’s Himself.
Such shall receive blessing and righteousness from God!
This is Generation Seeker.