“They tell others to do something and do not do it themselves”

This quote is from centuries ago! Words of Jesus Christ, about the religious leaders of the day.  He often called them ‘hypocrites’. Another translation reads:

Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do

Matthew 23:3

But before we start to feel too good about ourselves we should consider more words of Jesus. He asked:

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Warning, in fact, that we can all be hypocrites:

 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Matthew 7:2–3

It is a sad fact that we all have a tendency to see and exaggerate the faults in others while minimizing our own. And we are also quick to judge situations without knowing all the facts or motives.

But God knows all:

O Lord… You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

Psalm 139:1–4

God is our judge, and will determine our destiny based on complete knowledge of everything about us.

Let us therefore try to please Him.

These words were spoken recently by a judge in Australia. He was commenting on the famous case about the visa for the tennis star, Novak Djokovic. The implication was that there was nothing else Djokovic could have done.

Similar words were spoken of God Himself. Centuries ago a Jewish prophet pleaded with the disobedient people using a parable where they were likened to workers in a vineyard.  God is represented as saying:

What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?

Isaiah 5:4

But there was something else God was prepared to do. Years later Jesus reminded his contemporaries of this parable, but added:

…the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son.’ 

Luke 20:13

And God did: He sent His only son Jesus Christ. This act of supreme love was the very most that God could actually do for human beings. He sent His beloved son to save us from eternal death. And that involved the cruel death of Jesus, who said:

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.

John 15:13–14

So what more can we do? Surely our response to this love is to be Jesus’ friends. And this requires us to read the Bible and to find out what he, and God Himself, ask of us.

That is a very bold statement! And it is not intended to undermine the genuine worldwide concerns about the future of our planet.

So how do we know?

God has a purpose with the earth:

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other”.

Isaiah 45:18

His purpose is to fill it with His glory:

…but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Numbers 14:21

So how will our imminent survival crisis be averted?

Jesus has promised to return to set up God’s kingdom on earth. He will give eternal life to his true followers, raising those who had died. They will be with him on a transformed and glorified earth. People will not be allowed to destroy the earth.

Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.

Revelation 11:18

We all have a duty to care for this planet that God created for us. We should be concerned about what is happening to it. But our over-riding priority should be to revere God and to prepare for His kingdom. As Jesus told his followers:  ‘seek first the kingdom of God’.

Matthew 6:33

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