As an avid mountain biker who lives in the Los Angeles area, I’ve been thinking about green spaces lately and how the natural environment helps us connect with God. I read an interesting piece on Dave Daubert’s blog that I think puts words to the way we as followers of Jesus are called to steward the earth, encourage natural spaces in the city, and protect the environment God gave us.
As more and more people move to cities, we miss something vital if we don’t have green spaces to enjoy. We were designed for connection to the earth, and we sometimes forget that our eternity is not spent in the clouds, but on the new earth.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)