We are to grow up into Christlikeness, the goal of being new creatures in Jesus. But what does that mean in terms of the New Creation. And what does it mean in terms of the present Creation and our stewardly responsibilities in and towards it?

What does the Story of Jesus tell us about our role in creation, as presented to us in the Gospels and commented continually by the apostles? Does our stewardship mandate ('multiply, subdue the earth . . .') end with His life and finished work, because of His full accomplishment of all on our behalf?

Do Christ-followers stop our creaturely involvements, give up on this world and seek only another? Is it the Creation that will disappear, or only the worldly, sinful souls and empires that will be judged and removed from it?

Jesus said that He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets - that not one jot or tittle thereof would fail to be completed by Him. I think that includes the cultural and world-mandate given to Adam and to his descendants and that the Last Adam completes the task given by the Creator to humanity, as the epitome of His Creation (made in God’s image) - that He completed it, in and through His Life, Death and Resurrection - in embryo and promise once more, and continues to do so (or wants to, at least) through His Body the Church, through His modern follower-apprentices - here and now, in space-time history.

'The earth groans . . .', says St. Paul, waiting for the full completion and the fulness of the promise given by Jesus through His complete life and ministry.

As we groan, and as also does the Spirit of God within us - working in and through us, we will continue to be immersed in our Creation pursuits. They, now - by Jesus and through the Spirit, have become New Creation pursuits - objects, goals and realities that will one day be fully entered upon, when the world is without brokenness and sin, sans thorn, weariness or hindrance.