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Commentary on "Nature as a Source of Health"
Day 7: Friday, March 18, 2011 - Further Study
OVERVIEW
This lesson is all based upon Ellen G. White’s material. No biblical references were used or mentioned. The two quotes (from Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 49, 50, and The Adventist Home, p. 143) are followed by three basic discussion questions:
1.) How can we make sure that we don’t cross the line from being a lover of nature to a worshiper of it? How might that not always be an easy distinction to draw? However wonderful nature is, we always must remember that, in the end, it can’t save us. Only the God who created nature can. Why is it important to always keep that crucial truth in mind?
2.) What should we as Seventh-Day Adventists have to say in regard to the whole question of the environment? What, if anything in our teaching, could be a helpful and needed component in this important question? At the same time, how should we respond to the following idea: “Well, we know the Lord is coming soon, and this whole world will be destroyed and then made over, so is the environment really that important?”
3.) In what ways today should all the incredible advancements in scientific and natural knowledge help increase our love of and appreciation for the power of God? Think of all the things we know about the natural world today of which the ancients had no inkling. Thus, in what ways do we have so many more advantages than they ever did in regard to being able to marvel at the creative power of the Lord?
OBSERVATIONS
Some good questions are being asked, but what struck me here is that this discussion is really a moot point if the answers are not from the Bible, God’s inerrant Word. Furthermore, the Ellen G. White passages that are listed are not relevant to the discussion questions. Both of these quotes are “fluff”, with nothing biblical to back them up--purely subjective statements. Anyone can toss around discussion questions and come up with “good” answers, but if they’re based upon faulty or irrelevant information, no biblical Truth can be reached—only logical conclusions by man’s standard. Here are a few biblical thoughts to consider in response to the above discussion questions:
1.) It’s imperative to always worship the Creator vs. the created. Romans 1:20-25 says,
“From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
2.) We are called to take care of creation (Gen. 2:15), and our planet. We know that all of creation is groaning and under sin’s curse (Rom. 8:21, 22). While we know these things, we also know that there will be a new heaven and a new earth (2 Pet, 3:13; Rev. 21:1). Taking into account these things, it would seem that we should do our part to take care of this earth while we’re here, but hold it loosely in our hands, so to speak. We know that this isn’t our final destination, so making “Mother Earth” a god, and the end all, isn’t acceptable, either.
3.) Technology has increased rapidly in the past few decades. God is in control and decides when each advancement in technology should occur. His knowledge and power are limitless (Rev. 19:1), and with each advance we see, think of all the things God hasn’t yet revealed to us! One really only has to look as far as the human body to see the complexity and design of our Creator (Psalm 139:13-16). God’s Word tells us about the characteristics of God, as well. Probably our biggest problem isn’t seeing the power of God in advanced technology, so much as it is to resist all the distractions so that we keep our focus where it should be—on God and His Word.
CONCLUSIONS
- All “spiritual” discussion is subjective and fruitless if the answers aren’t based in the inerrant Word of God—the Bible.
- Creation should always point to the Creator and His Truth (Rom. 1:25).
- We are called to take care of creation (Gen. 2:15). While we know that Christ is returning, (with a new heaven and a new earth) and that this planet is groaning under sin’s curse (Rom. 8:21, 22), we are stewards until He returns. Since we know that this world isn’t our final destination, making “Mother Earth” a god is unacceptable.
- God’s power is limitless. Rapidly changing technology only underscores how much we don’t know. The human body is probably as far as we really need to go to see the complexity and design of our Lord. While all our recent advances cause us to marvel at God and His creation, the Bible tells us in many places of His power, wisdom and glory. The Truth of God’s Word is all we need to marvel at His creative power. A bigger problem than seeing the power of God in technology is resisting all the distractions so we keep our focus where is should be—on God and His Word.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 13, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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