Chapter One
MARCH
NATURE-IN-WAITING
Read Romans 8:19-25
Henrik rushed outdoors to see why Grandpa's dog, Blackie, was barking so
loudly. He found Blackie jumping higher and higher, trying to reach a
squirrel up in the apple tree. "Shame on you, Blackie," said Henrik as the
squirrel loudly scolded from his perch in the tree. Henrik pulled the dog
away.
Henrik decided to find Grandpa. As he headed for the tool shed, he saw
Smokey, the cat, hiding in the grass and staring at some birds pecking at
seeds on the ground. "Get away from those birds, Smokey," warned
Henrik.
Hearing his grandson's voice, Grandpa came from the shed with two
rakes. "How about helping me clean up the garden?" Grandpa asked.
Henrik took a rake and followed Grandpa. "I can tell an owl was up in this
tree the last few nights. Here's the fur and bones from some small animal
the owl had for dinner."
Henrik frowned. "Grandpa, why do some of the animals eat each
other?" he asked. "It seems so cruel."
Grandpa nodded. "Well, God's Word says that nature is groaning
because of sin in the world," he said. "Ever since sin came into the world
in the Garden of Eden, animals have suffered right along with people."
When Grandpa and Henrik carefully raked dead sticks and leaves from
the flower bed, they saw tiny green shoots peeking above the ground.
Grandpa pointed. "New life," he said. "It reminds me that someday God is
going to make a brand-new world where animals won't be afraid of one
another or harm one another. It's going to be more wonderful than we
can imagine." He grinned at Henrik and added, "God rules over nature, in
spite of sin." CEY
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel sad that some animals have to kill others for food? Or that bigger
animals often pick on smaller ones? A better day is coming for those who
know Jesus. When you see new plants springing up, you can thank God that
someday he will make all things new.
MEMORIZE:
"The wolf and lamb will feed together.
The lion will eat straw like the ox."
Isaiah 65:25
God Will Make
a New World
(Continues.)
