Researchers are particularly interested in islands when they are studying the affect of "non-native" species on the "native" environment. New Zealand is a big island, and it is the center of much research.In the 1800's, sailors from Europe decided to introduce rabbits to New Zealand as a fast-producing, plentiful, edible resource. Within a few decades though, the rabbit population grew into the hundreds of millions, devastating the native plant life and starving out other native species of animals. Something had to be done with the 600,000,000 rabbits! So in the 1950s, a virus that is very lethal to rabbits was introduced (illegally) into New Zealand. The myxomatosis virus was released, and initially it slashed the rabbit population down to a 1/6th of its original number. But the remaining rabbit population became resistant to the virus, and as they survived and thrived, the new population of super-rabbits exploded!
Influence. We underestimate it. We are all injecting things into our environment...an environment designed by God. But are we considering the impact? In God's environment, he created it to be filled with things native to Him and his character. That means that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, righteousness, generosity, grace and truth are all native to his environment.
When we introduce more of these elements, God’s harvest of righteousness grows and blesses us all. But when we introduce hate, discouragement, divisiveness, jealousy, covetousness, envy, murder, unfaithfulness, slander, prejudice, favoritism, grudges, an unforgiving spirit, judgmentalism, selfishness, and the like; we are importing "non-native" elements into His environment. The net result is a corrupt, dangerous, and unfulfilling life on this planet.
John 1:10-11 speaks to this issue of environment.
He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own [people] did not receive him.This passage is profound. Jesus is light and life. (John 1:4, 9) He came into his world, but it had become so dark and lifeless that it did not recognize him! Surely the Creator is "native" to the creation, but he seemed foreign because, "men loved darkness rather than light and their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). When we are no longer satisfied with the things of God, we begin to develop a tolerance (and eventually an appetite) for things that substitute for God.
Whatever we introduce into our thoughts, will influence our words and deeds. Then our words and deeds influence and shape the environment around us, which in turn influences the people with whom we interact. Take a few moments for three considerations:
- How can I introduce more of God into my personal thoughts, and what influences will I reduce or eliminate?
- How can I introduce more generosity, humility, and grace into the lives of the people with whom I interact everyday, and what will I reduce or eliminate from those interactions?
- Big Challenge: If you have not given the utmost respect to someone in your family, your work or school, your community, or in the body of Christ, you are withholding something that is "native" to the Christian life, and that is the love of Christ Jesus. This special kind of love is described throughout the Bible, and it is a love that creates an amazing environment in which everyone can thrive.
Generosity is a very personal and engaging process, and there are many ways to be generous. Giving the funds with which we have been entrusted is one way. But caring for someone fully with a respectful and loving heart may be and even greater demonstration of what the Good Samaritan asked of the Innkeeper.
- Don McLaughlin
