Awed by seeing our beautiful blue planet as they were orbiting the moon, Apollo 8 astronauts were inspired to quote a part of the Bible passage below to people on the earth in a Christmas Eve telecast in 1968.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.’ … God called the expanse ‘sky.’ And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry ground ‘land,’ and the gathered waters he called ‘seas.’…
“Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so….
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars….
“And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.’… ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”{63}
The biblical account of creation in Genesis 1 is not intended as a literal description of prehistoric origins. It is, however, supported by basic facts of science and some scientists have, upon closer examination, seen quite a few exact parallels.{64} The visible heaven is an expanse above the earth where the sun, moon and stars are seen. The heavenly bodies separate day from night and determine the duration of months and years. Planet Earth consists of seas and dry land, both spheres teeming with plant and animal life suited to their environment. Humans are a unique form of life, ruling over the earth and the rest of the creatures, though as history and the present unfortunately show, not always responsibly. What lessons can be learned from the heavens, the seas and the dry land?
The atmosphere above the earth is the source of life giving air. Without air, and especially oxygen which is essential for breathing, most life on earth would cease. Even thin air in high altitudes is challenging for mountain climbers as it has a negative effect on the body. Only organisms specifically adapted to the conditions can survive and thrive there.
Breath is a vital sign of life for land creatures and amphibians. (Fish also require oxygen for survival, but take it from the water through their gills, rather than from the air.) A person who stops breathing will soon die if not quickly resuscitated.
The Scriptures reveal that ultimately all life is given and sustained by God. Breath is also used as an analogy of the Holy Spirit. Without the indwelling Spirit, there is no spiritual life in the same way that without breath, there is no physical life. Those who have received the Spirit of God are promised a resurrection to eternal life after their death.{65}
The atmosphere also shields the earth’s inhabitants from dangerous radiation. Damage to this protective layer, such as seen in the ozone hole above parts of the earth, has harmful consequences for humans and animals, including skin cancer and blindness.
The Bible refers to God as a protective shield for those who trust in him. Strong faith is a part of the “armour of God” – a shield against the darts of the evil one.{66}
From the sun, the earth receives light and heat, both of which are essential for life. Without them, the planet would be dark and frozen and plants couldn’t produce vital oxygen through photosynthesis. The sun regulates the length of day and night, as well as the weather patterns of the seasons.
The Scriptures contrast light and darkness as symbols for goodness and the way of God on the one hand, and evil and the way of the devil on the other. The two phenomena are also used as the contrast between truth and error, as well as between knowledge and ignorance. Light shows the way and truth sets people free. Darkness, by comparison, makes one stumble and sin enslaves people. Jesus Christ is metaphorically referred to as the Sun of righteousness and the Light of the world. His followers are to be a light to others.{67}
Air currents in the atmosphere, experienced as wind, are needed for water circulation between the seas and dry land. Without these streams of air no rain would fall and the continents would be all desert.
Wind in the Bible is used as another symbol of the Holy Spirit. As the effects of wind are seen but its precise working may not be clearly understood, the same is true about the Spirit. Wind brings life giving rain to the earth. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is a source of spiritual and eternal life and is figuratively referred to as living water and being poured out.{68}
At any time of the day, whether strolling along the beach, fishing from a boat, or riding the waves on a surf board, we cannot help but be impressed by the ocean. Its vastness, restlessness, and hues mimicking the moods of the surrounding atmosphere reflect divine majesty. Bright sunshine from a cloudless sky gives the sea deep blue colour and a sparkle; full moon on a clear night makes it look silvery. The sea teems with life ranging from tiny plankton to gigantic whales. With the tides predictably governed by the gravitational pulls of the moon and sun, seas are full of energy. This cyclic rise and fall of the water – influenced by the sun’s and moon’s position in relation to the earth, the atmospheric pressure, and the wind currents – can be compared to the pulse beat of the oceans.
Analogies can again be drawn for the Christian life. Rocky outcrops in the sea are continuously under the onslaught of waves. Over time, they are eroded and smoothed at their rough edges. Similarly, human lives are beaten and shaped by events and experiences as well as the influence of the Holy Spirit within. Gradually, selfishness is eroded and one becomes more compassionate and concerned for others. The Scriptures speak about being washed from sins by the Word and Spirit of God.{69}
While the sea is vast and awe inspiring, the water therein is undrinkable. Paradoxically, stranded sailors can die of thirst in the middle of an ocean if their drinking water runs out. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit and the truth are compared to fresh and living water. In a world still under the influence of Satan, falsehood and deception abound. The sacred writings, however, speak of a time when the earth will be full of the knowledge of God like the seas are full of water.{70}
The dry land consists mainly of mineral particles. They create sandy beaches and deserts; produce soil able to support vegetation; and form rocks and mountains. Much of the dry land is covered with plants, such as grass, bushes, trees, and cultivated crops. Many animals depend on the vegetation for food. Others, higher up in the food chain, depend on the herbivores for their sustenance. Everything works together in harmony – if not upset by unwise human practices.
Soils can be fertile or infertile, and hence of varying productivity. Soil can also be the source of precious stones and metals such as gold, silver, diamonds and iron. Another valuable commodity is oil and its derivatives upon which modern industry and technology heavily rely. The Word of God uses the analogy of soil quality in relation to people’s spiritual growth and the fruitfulness of their lives.{71}
Mountains in the Scriptures are often places of special significance or divine manifestation. From Mount Sinai, God spoke the Ten Commandments. Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were mountains in the Promised Land from which blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience were recited. God through Elijah demonstrated his power on Mount Carmel. Jesus was transfigured and glorified on a mountain, appearing together with Moses and Elijah. He will return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where he spent many moments with his twelve disciples during his physical life. View from a mountain inevitably provides one with a fresh perspective on life.{72}
When nature is rightly balanced, everything works together in harmony. However, struggle and adversity are built into the life cycles of many organisms. For example, migrating birds and butterflies face great odds on their journeys, struggling against rain, wind, exhaustion and hunger. Salmon start a new generation at the end of their lives by swimming upstream against incredible obstacles, to the place up the river where they hatched. Forest or steppe inhabitants must sometimes flee from fires, arctic creatures battle blizzards and extreme coldness, and desert animals are exposed to intense heat and dust storms. Nonetheless, even negative situations in nature can have an overall positive effect, such as fires clearing away dead matter and prompting new life to burst forth. Volcanic explosions, while potentially destructive, give rise to rich fertile soil.
Similarly in human life, God can and does work in adverse situations. Just as parts of the natural world are harsh and inhospitable and yet well adapted life not only survives but thrives there, the same is true of human societies. Those in well to do western countries are often amazed at the hardship and suffering that people in developing nations are able to withstand.
Sometimes God allows, or may even bring about, adversity for humanly incomprehensible reasons. As Christians, we are called to resist surrounding evil influences even at the cost of personal suffering. Yet, while going through difficulties, we can be confident that God is there with us in the hour of trial. Ironically, divine presence is often seen much more clearly in adverse conditions than when all is going well. The Scriptures reassure us that in the long run, all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.{73}
Moreover, prophecies talk about a new heaven and new earth, where struggles, suffering, and even death will be things of the past. Humans will live in peace, children will be safe, and even wild animals will lose their ferocious natures. We don’t know how this may come to pass or even to what degree it is literal rather than metaphorical. Either way, however, we can hope for and look forward to a new and better world, where God will live with people and all will experience unsurpassed love, beauty, and abundant life.{74}