We are comforted by the knowledge that everything belongs to the Lord, including people.

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“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.”
Psalm 24:1-2 English Standard Version

I’ve been fortunate to visit Canada, Germany, Mexico, Honduras and Peru. After the initial nervousness of being eyeballed by customs agents and acknowledging that I don’t understand the language, I realize that there are similarities to life in the United States.

Pucallpa, Peru

This scene of people milling about the shore of the Ucayali River in Peru happens in many places. Does it look the same? No, there are differences between the waterfront in Portland, Oregon, and that of Pucallpa. You don’t find the amount of trash littering the banks of the Willamette River like you do the Ucayali.

What makes the two scenes similar are the people. When I took this picture there were people standing by themselves and others forming groups. There were people working and others watching. People spoke, laughed and ignored each other. Though I was thousands of miles away from my home, there was something familiar about this experience.

King David reminds us that the earth is the Lord’s including the people who call this orb home. This fact comforts us when all we see around us is chaos, brokenness and sin. The Christian community confesses that our God has called this world into existence, and into its existence he has sent his Son to redeem God’s people.

It’s easy to get caught up in what is wrong with the world rather than confess that our God is present and over all in this world.

As you go about your daily routine, take a moment and watch people. And as you’re observing life, hear King David’s words whispering in your ear, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

Copyright Douglas P. Brauner