Many industries produce what is called “toxic waste.” This material is harmful to any soil and water it comes in contact with. Many parts of nature also produce waste products, but they are helpful rather than harmful. In fact, the Creator’s design in what we call “nature” is that nothing is ever actually wasted. As trees, grass and other vegetation die, their very death is the first step in renewing life in the forest.
Last week we learned of some of the visible things — weather and creatures — that help dispose of the forest’s litter and convert it to good soil to nourish old and new growth. But even more important are the invisible ones which work along with them. These are the bacteria that take over when the work of the others is completed. Many billions of bacteria, too small to be seen without a microscope, are always present to do their part in the process of breaking down the waste products of field and forest.
These organisms not only eat and secrete the material already partly decomposed by the great “janitorial” armies of insects and animals, but in some instances they work ahead of these, preparing the material for them. We see the effect of these organisms in a piece of fruit with a brown, soft spot. Bacteria are already working here, and insects, birds or animals may finish it off.
Almost all of these “janitors” in the soil are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye, and no one but the Creator knows for sure how many different kinds there are. We do know there are countless billions of them, and all are a part of God’s wonderful design of creation.
All this activity is going on night and day, and few people are even aware of it. But God is not only aware of it, He is the One who has made them and given them their important place in this vast world-wide system, and He sees them as they do their work.
As we think of this amazing activity and how that which has died becomes new life again, we see a remarkable picture of the person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and how the Bible says this person has “passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). Another Bible verse explains more about this person: “If any man [or woman or boy or girl] be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
These happy people enjoy entirely new lives in the sight of God, a life that will be theirs for eternity. Are you one of these changed people who has new life?
ML-11/07/1999