It Was Good

I was a little indisposed this past week on Earth Day, so I thought that I might share a few thoughts today. When I reflect on the creation story in Genesis, there is one phrase that continues to repeat again and again. "And God saw that it was good." After each day of creation, God reflects on what He has done, and decides that it is good (for what it is worth, I happen to agree). There is a myth in our culture that says that something's value is related to its utility, i.e. the earth is good because we can use it for stuff we like. However, the biblical witness says something different. Before there even were people to use (and over-use) the earth's resources, there simply was creation, and it was good. God said. The earth has a value that is intrinsic to itself. It needs no justification, no utility. It simply is good, whether we like it, or not. So, care for creation, not because it makes sense (which, it does), not because it is practical (which, it is), and not even because it is moral (and in case you wondered, it is), but because God said that it was good, before we even had a chance to pollute it. God saw that it was good.