“Then the LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer and day and night shall not cease.’” Genesis 8:21-22
Reading in Genesis, as it’s the beginning of a new year, I found myself fascinated with the phrase while the earth remains. Wondering why it struck a chord, I thought, it is a reminder that what we experience now is not all there is! That this earthly life has an end. Troubles and pain, and all that distresses us will be over someday. But, until that day, we rely on God’s promise of His control; His sovereignty. Nature obeys His commands; He sustains the status quo.
Often after a long dreary winter, spring feels far away, especially in climates that can be harsh, we wait impatiently for the change of seasons, but never do we truly doubt that it will come. We inherently believe that the sun will rise in the morning, because deep inside there is a part of us that does not doubt, but believes. While the earth remains, we have God’s promise that He is in control.
There is hope, to me, in that phrase. When we are in a dark and harsh circumstance, we can trust that relief will come…that pain and struggle will someday be made right. The earth will not always be this way; there is a big change coming, but while it remains, we can trust in the word of God, His promises. There is a new day coming to those who faithfully trust while the earth remains.
