We have a responsibility to be good stewards of nature. And, I think we are called to have a certain conviction to enjoy nature. Some of us may enjoy it more than others and that’s ok—just as long as we enjoy what God has given us and surrounds us with.
One of the first Shorter Catechism questions to lodge in my mind (after #1, which all good Reformed Presbyterians know!) was #35, “What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” I am sure for many of us who read this blog, this one is familiar to you as well—it has been helpful in your own spiritual growth and in counseling others in their spiritual growth as well. It reminds us that sanctification is a life-long process of God that may be painful at times, but, in the end, is all worth it, because we are being renewed after our created image.
In my own Christian life, I have been surprised by some aspects of God’s sanctification. It’s not always the “how”—I have found that primarily happens through the means of grace. It’s been more in the “what”…that as I die to certain sins, God introduces me to an aspect of His being and/or creation for me to delight in. It’s the classic “put off/put on” of Scripture—that as I “put off” a sin, God shows me something to “put on” in its place.
What has been most surprising for me in this is God showing me the delight of His creation that is around me. As I “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”, I find that I am enjoying nature more and more. That’s surprising to me because I wasn’t necessarily raised to delight in nature. I had, in some ways, the quintessential all-American childhood—out riding bikes all day long…playing baseball, football and basketball at the park and in the neighborhoods…climbing trees & exploring little patches of woods that were scatted throughout Shaw Air Force Base. I did some camping with the Royal Ambassadors from our Baptist church—going to Lake Wateree, fishing, cooking hobo meals on the fire, tents circling our campsite. When I think of my childhood, some part of those memories are of being outside, surrounded by pine trees and kicking up the sandy soil of Sumter, SC.
But, I was by no means an outdoor enthusiast. I didn’t delight in my natural surroundings. They were just part of the scenery of playing ball, riding bikes, engaging in pretend battles. And, as I got into my teens and young adulthood, more and more of my time was spent inside homes or cars, hanging out with friends. There were bonfires—but that was more for mischief than anything else. I enjoyed the changing of seasons reflected in nature, but, by no means, was I anything close to being a nature lover. It was just part of the scenery of life.
Now, I am 45 years old, and 24 years into a serious walk with Christ…and I find that I am delighting more in nature. And, that has surprised me because I didn’t see that coming. Yet, it has, and the more I read Scripture, the more I find it makes sense.