"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." Psa. 139:12.
Many industries produce what is called "toxic waste"—material that is harmful to the soil and water with which it comes in contact. But while many of the things of nature also produce waste products, they are helpful rather than harmful. In fact, the Creator's order in the things 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.
In our preceding article 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 new and old growth. But, even more important than those busy creatures are the invisible ones which work side by side 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 on hand to do their part in the whole process of breaking down the waste products of forests and orchards.
These organisms not only eat and secrete the softened material already partly decomposed by the great "janitorial" armies of insects and animals—each doing a tiny but important part in enabling more new growth to maintain itself and repeat the whole process year after year—but in some instances they work ahead of the others, preparing the material for them. We see the effect of these organisms in a piece of fruit with a brown mushy spot on it. Bacteria may start this and a bird or animal finish it off.
Almost all 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 billions and billions of them, more than could ever be counted, and all are a part of God's wonderful 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, but is the One who has made them and given them their important place in this vast world-wide system, and He watches over them as they do their work.
As we think of this amazing activity and how that which has died becomes new life again, we can see a happy picture of the person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus as his Savior, 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 boy or girl] be. in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man 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?