I can sea a reason for hope

Sarah Olowofoyeku gives her take on David Attenborough’s new film, Ocean.

The trailer for David Attenborough’s new film, Ocean, which was released in cinemas last week, stopped me in my tracks. In it, he says: ‘Today the ocean is in such poor health, I would find it hard to not lose hope, were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all. The ocean can recover faster than we had ever imagined… Put simply, we’ve been given a lifeline.’

After the record-breaking heat at the start of May and the reports of flooding by hailstones in France, I had been wondering about the state of the planet.

But David’s message was one of hope. Because of this new discovery, he says, the ocean may ‘thrive beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen’.

Good film-making, compelling words and a swelling soundtrack aside, his message – I am sure – will resonate with many people, because hope is a powerful thing. I am moved too, but I am also reminded of how the world has ended up in such a position.

Thousands of years ago, the planet was entrusted to humans by God, who created it. He told us to take care of it. And we haven’t. Through deforestation, industrialised farming and fishing as well as general selfishness and greed, we have mistreated his gift.

The truth is, we have damaged everything that God has given us – including our relationships with each other and our potential for connection with him. Humanity is in such poor health, but we have also been given a lifeline: Jesus.

Through his death, Jesus took on the blame for the destruction we were headed for because of our own behaviour; and, through his resurrection, he made a way for us to experience new and everlasting life.

It’s a message of lasting hope. While we still must – with God’s help – take care of each other and our planet while we are alive, we will all die one day. Deciding to follow Jesus is the only way that we can be certain of experiencing life after death and a world beyond anything any of us have ever seen.