Throughout history, humanity has asked the most profound questions: Who is the God? Why are we here? Where is the world heading? From a Christian theological perspective, particularly one that embraces the deep interconnectedness of all life, the answers to these questions are woven together into a grand narrative of creation, stewardship, and holistic restoration.
To understand God and His will is to recognize a divine vision that extends far beyond individual human salvation; it is a vision that encompasses the flourishing of the entire cosmos.
Part I: Who is God? The Relational Creator and Sustainer
In the Christian understanding, God is first and foremost the loving Creator of the universe. The opening chapters of Genesis reveal a God who speaks reality into existence, declaring all that is made as fundamentally "good" (Genesis 1). However, God is not a distant clockmaker who wound up the universe and walked away. Rather, God is the intimate, ongoing Sustainer of all life.
Theologians often refer to this as creatio continua (continuing creation). The biblical poet in Psalm 104 beautifully illustrates this by describing a God who actively provides breath and sustenance to all creatures—from the birds of the air to the leviathan in the sea. The 16th-century Reformer John Calvin profoundly described the entire universe as the "theater of God's glory." Therefore, God is an intimately relational being who desires His goodness, justice, and beauty to be reflected throughout the delicate webs of the global ecosystem, not solely within human beings.
Theologians often refer to this as creatio continua (continuing creation). The biblical poet in Psalm 104 beautifully illustrates this by describing a God who actively provides breath and sustenance to all creatures—from the birds of the air to the leviathan in the sea. The 16th-century Reformer John Calvin profoundly described the entire universe as the "theater of God's glory." Therefore, God is an intimately relational being who desires His goodness, justice, and beauty to be reflected throughout the delicate webs of the global ecosystem, not solely within human beings.
Furthermore, God is revealed through Jesus Christ as the Redeemer. Colossians 1:16-17 affirms that all things were created through Christ and hold together in Him. The scope of this redemption is cosmic; God is the one who seeks to reconcile and heal a broken world.
Part II: God’s Will for Humanity: The Vocation of Stewardship
If God is the loving Creator and Sustainer, what then is humanity’s role within this grand design? For centuries, some interpretations of the Christian scriptures inadvertently fueled an anthropocentric (human-centered) worldview. By misinterpreting God’s command in Genesis 1:28 to "subdue" the earth and have "dominion" over it, humanity often justified the unchecked exploitation of natural resources.
However, a deeper, more accurate biblical theology redefines this mandate. Humanity is created in the Imago Dei (the Image of God). Because God’s rule is characterized by sacrificial love, provision, and justice, human "dominion" must mirror this servant-leadership. We are not the owners of the Earth; we are its caretakers.
This is clarified in Genesis 2:15, where God places humanity in the Garden of Eden to "work it and keep it." The original Hebrew words used here are profoundly significant: abad (meaning to serve or cultivate) and shamar (meaning to protect, preserve, or keep safe). Therefore, God’s primary will for humanity is the vocation of creation stewardship. We are called to be the gardeners of God’s ecosystem, ensuring that all life thrives.
In our current era—often called the Anthropocene, an epoch where human activity is the dominant influence on climate and the environment—this calling takes on urgent moral weight. God’s will for humanity today involves active ecological repentance. It means turning away from greed and overconsumption, and instead pursuing justice, sustainability, and compassionate care for both the planet and the marginalized communities who suffer most from environmental degradation.
Part III: God’s Will for the World: Cosmic and Holistic Restoration
While humanity has a specific vocation, God's ultimate will for the world—the entire cosmos—is holistic restoration. The biblical narrative does not end with the abandonment or destruction of the physical universe in favor of a purely spiritual, disembodied eternity. Instead, it points toward the profound healing and reconciliation of all created things.
The Apostle Paul captures the current state of the earth in Romans 8:19-22, writing that all of creation is "groaning as in the pains of childbirth," waiting eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. This profound imagery signifies that the natural world is currently suffering—polluted, depleted, and fractured under the weight of human selfishness and ecological degradation. Yet, creation is not discarded; it is pregnant with hope.
God’s will for the world is encapsulated in the Hebrew concept of Shalom—not merely the absence of conflict, but absolute wholeness, peace, and flourishing across all relationships: between God, humanity, and nature. As Colossians 1:20 declares, God's ultimate plan through Christ is to "reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven."
Historically, some Christian traditions have emphasized an eschatology (theology of the end times) focused strictly on individual salvation and leaving the physical earth behind. However, a robust theology of creation—championed by modern ecological theologians like Jürgen Moltmann—reminds us that God suffers alongside a groaning creation and desires its ultimate liberation. The biblical climax in Revelation 21:1-5 does not describe an evacuation from Earth, but rather a "New Heaven and a New Earth." In this beautiful vision, the divine realm descends, and God chooses to dwell forever with and within a renewed, transformed creation. God's will is not to discard the planet, but to redeem it.
Conclusion
In summary, God is the loving Creator, the intimate Sustainer, and the ultimate Redeemer who intricately weaves all life together and cares deeply for the entire cosmos. Who God is cannot be separated from what God has made; the universe is the very theater of His glory and grace.
In summary, God is the loving Creator, the intimate Sustainer, and the ultimate Redeemer who intricately weaves all life together and cares deeply for the entire cosmos. Who God is cannot be separated from what God has made; the universe is the very theater of His glory and grace.
God's will for humanity is not a mandate to dominate or exploit, but a sacred vocation to act as faithful stewards. We are called to serve (abad) and protect (shamar) the earth. In the Anthropocene era—a time marked by unprecedented ecological crisis—this divine mandate is more critical than ever. It calls us to a life of active responsibility, ecological repentance, and compassionate care for the vulnerable environments and communities around us.
Finally, God's ultimate will for the world is profound, holistic restoration. The divine narrative does not end with the destruction of the earth, but rather with the healing of all creation. God’s ultimate desire is Shalom—complete peace, justice, and flourishing for all things. As we look toward the promise of a renewed heaven and earth, we are invited to participate here and now in God’s redemptive work, bringing hope and healing to a groaning, yet deeply loved, world.