You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites.—Numbers 35:34
Brainy Tip: How we treat the world we live in is shaped by our thoughts, which form our attitude and worldview.
God is always watching: he sees everything and he upholds all existence as logos. He was there before time began; through him and by his love the whole world came into being. He is ever-present; he knows our innermost thoughts, our every word; he dwells among us.
We should constantly be renewing our minds, taking our thoughts captive and choosing love, since we are wired for love. We are wired to tap into the divine reality of God that dwells among us. We are designed to latch on to God’s love.
If we don’t operate in a loving, respectful way toward all of creation, we defile not only ourselves but the earth as well. If we ignore our wired-for-love design, we forget who we truly are, choosing foolishly and bringing pain and chaos into the world. Think of the effects of manmade climate change, for example, and its impact on every living thing on a global scale.
Yet if we choose to follow the Messiah, we build a relationship with God—becoming our true selves and changing the world for the better. We bring the culture and beauty of heaven to earth, creating little Edens wherever we live.