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AT THE JOURNEY’S END, NEVER AGAIN (GENESIS 8:13-22)

The theme for our reflection is, “At the journey’s end, never again.” A journey’s end means the finishing line or landing place. Never again means a resolution to refrain from repeating an act in the future. God ended the flood and promised to never again to destroy the earth in such a manner.

Noah’s Ark came to a journey’s end when “God said to Noah, “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.” (Genesis 8:15-19). The journey’s end of the ark was the beginning of God’s restoration of life after He had destroyed the earth with a flood. God gave humanity and all other living creatures another chance. (Genesis 8:20-22). Dear friend, like Noah God has kept you alive for a purpose and has brought your current stagnant situation to a journey’s end so that you can begin a new journey of productivity and fruitfulness, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) It is not God’s will to see us in a situation of stagnation or redundancy. In Christ, we find a new beginning of revival and restoration of life. Let us begin our life’s journey with God and end with Him successfully and peacefully.

Beloved in the Lord, although God had promised, “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21), human beings through our actions and inactions continue to unsustainably destroy the earth. God in His wisdom created the universe but purposely created the earth for human beings to live on. We are not only doing what is abominable in our time but we are actively destroying the earth and overwhelmingly altering how the earth functions, hence, the negative impact of climate change on our lives. God after the destruction, restored the earth and promised that “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22). Instead of an extreme season of rain and flood, God restored balance and consistency for the benefit of humanity. Unfortunately, in some part of the world, there is balance in the ecosystem as a result of our human actions and inactions. There is no planting and harvesting time because of severe famine, hunger and water crises as a result of deforestation and the destruction of the green vegetation. The food security of other countries is greatly threatened. Most of the lands are being used for illegal mining activities and the fishes in the water bodies around the mining areas are no longer safe for consumption. The natural habitat of most animals that serve as food for the population has been destroyed through illegal hunting practices . Most people in the world are now depending on genetically modified food. Although God said never again will He destroy the earth, human beings are destroying it and the unbearable ramifications of diseases, floods, heat waves, and drought with its resultant climate change issues continue to hit us hard. We are greatly called upon to treat the earth with care by engaging in sustainable activities that make the earth a safe place for today’s generation and posterity.

In summary, we have learnt that God is merciful therefore He restores us by bringing our challenges and state of stagnation to a journey’s end. Even as He promises never to destroy the earth again, we have the responsibility to sustainably maintain the earth for our survival and mutual benefit. Shalom.

PRAYER

Dear God, may we be found worthy of Your call and salvation when we come to our journey’s end on earth. Amen.