Healing the Cosmos

The extent of Christs work on the cross

Christ’s work on the cross was not only about saving human souls. Scripture paints a larger picture where the cross heals the entire cosmos. Humanity was given the unique role of bearing the image of God (the Imago Dei), meaning that humans have a unique sense of moral compass, relationship with the divine and purpose of being God’s representatives on Earth.

Purpose of creation

That said, all of creation reflects the God who created it and His glory. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). The world was created good in Genesis with beauty and order that mirrors the beauty and order of God. St Paul tells us that God’s invisible attributes “have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20), showing that His wisdom and love are at play in the universe. While animals are not in the Imago Dei because they lack that morality, priestly role and relationship with God, I believe they still have intelligence and capacity for love which are attributes of God.

Redemption of Sin

However, due to the fall, creation is not as its meant to be. When Adam sinned, the curse entered the whole world. We are told the ground is cursed (Genesis 3:17) and death entered all things, including the plants, trees and animals. This means that not only humanity, but the entire cosmos needs redemption. Paul tells us that “the creation was subjected to futility…in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption…For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:19-21).

This defilement is at the heart of God’s redeeming plan. Paul proclaims that God’s plan is to “united all things in him, things in heaven and things on Earth” (Ephesians 1:10). This redemption is not a separate act of his atoning work on the cross, but is included in the very purpose of it. “Through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). Christ tells us that he is “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5) so the end of the story is not redeemed human souls going to heaven but a restoration of Earth – turning it into heaven.

Due to the fall, the image of God in humanity is diminished. However so is the cosmos less reflecting God due to the evil that persists in it. The universe is less beautiful now than it was meant to be. The scriptures tell us that in Chris you “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). We are being transformed and “created after the likeness of God” (Ephesians 4:24). So, in Christ we are brought back toward the Imago Dei. Likewise, creation will one day be restored to its glory.

All things made new

Restoring creation is not just about making the world beautiful, but its about restoring purpose. Not all things are traditionally “beautiful”, but beauty exists when a thing does as its meant to do.

For example, dogs don’t necessarily sin themselves, but they are impacted by sin. They bite, and fight and die, none of which was intended in Eden. This is not reflecting God’s nature. However, when dogs do as dogs are meant to do, they are reflecting God’s order. This ties back to Maximus the Confessors idea of logoi, every created things purpose that is meant to be restored.

The bible tells us that all creation is not just meant to show the glory of God, but worship God. How can nature worship God? Despite being non-living, non-conscious and without soul, God is worshipped simply by things doing what they are supposed to do. Psalm 148 tells us the sun, moon, stars, Earth, sea creatures, lighting, snow, clouds, winds, fruits and mountains are called to worship. J Richard Middleton then says:

“But how do mountains and stars worship God? Certainly not verbally or with emotions. Rather, mountains worship God simply by being mountains... And stars worship God by being stars”