Thought for the Month - November 2019

"An inconvenient truth" by Barry Adair
(Global Warming or Global Scorching)

It is impossible these days to avoid all the chatter about Global Warming. Everyone is talking about it, 'celebs' are tweeting about it, eco warriors are marching about it, Al Gore is presenting about it and Greta Thunberg is organising worldwide strikes for it. Yes, I was thinking about Global Warming this month and wanted to add what I had unearthed as our Thought for the Month.

Now, of course, global warming or climate change or CO2 emissions or indeed Al Gore or Greta Thunberg aren't to be found in the Bible. Although, to listen to some, they all really should be in there! However, the Bible does tell us what is in store for our earth in the years to come. But before I get to that, I wanted to give my brief two-pence-worth on the present claims for Global Warming.

In a nutshell, from the presented scientific facts, it does appear that humans are having some sort of adverse impact on the overall health of our planet's climate, i.e. increased global warming. Although the main source of increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses is by natural causes (such as increased volcanic activity, wild fires and sun spot activity), humans do seem to have added to this natural cycle by widespread forest clearing, CFC and SF6 usage, burning fossil fuels etc.

Now, as for the six-million-dollar question of whether we are actually destroying our planet by global warming or not, the answer will be an inconvenient truth for many. According to the Bible, our earth is headed for a hot and fiery ending! And the future outcome of our earth WILL ultimately have been our fault BUT not because we used the wrong aerosols or didn't all go vegan or allowed Brazil to burn down so much of the Amazonian forest. Now, I say "inconvenient truth" for a couple of reasons. The first is because "An inconvenient truth" is the well-known documentary on Al Gore's view of Global Warming. The second reason is that what the Bible states will be an inconvenient truth for those who have no belief whatsoever in God, and who desperately want mankind to be able to save our planet.

According to the Bible, mankind was tasked with looking after the Earth. But after our first parents disobeyed God, sin entered our planet and our relationship with it has been strained ever since (Genesis 3:17-19). We have certainly not been good stewards of the planet. Just think back to some recent environmental disasters - Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez, Union Carbide, Kuwaiti oil fires and the Dust Bowl to name just five! But it is our sinful activity which I believe is the real stain on our planet. After the first ever murder of a human being (Abel), God told Cain that "your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10). How loud must the cries be from the ground today? How much innocent blood has been shed all over the world due to human sin? Our earth is soaked in sin. We are living on a filthy planet, without even considering any toxic waste, radioactive dumps or discarded plastics.

In 2 Peter 3 of the Bible we are told that the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. And just to emphasise the point, a couple of lines later we are again told that the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire. The earth and its atmosphere, as we know it, will cease to be - dissolved on an atomic level with intense heat. More 'Global Scorching' than 'Global Warming'!

Now, you may have detected that I'm not showing much emotion here, even after coolly stating that our earth will end up as a great ball of fire. Well, I had already read to the next line in our Bible passage! Directly after telling us about the future fiery outcome of our earth and atmosphere, we are also told this -

But, in accordance with His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Don't you just love the "But's" in the Bible!

And of course, all true believers will have been removed from the earth before it erupts in flames.

It is also my personal view that our new earth will, in some form, still be akin to the old one, except remade and purified of all its inherent filth. Perhaps, just like redeemed believers in their new 'heavenly bodies' will retain some traits from their old bodies, the same may be the case with our earth. Perhaps our new earth will essentially be like a purified existing earth…

"Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed." (Psalm 102:25-26, NKJV)

But one thing I do know, righteousness will feel right at home in the new earth. Sin will have been eradicated and we will actually dwell with the God who made us!

Our earth is reserved for fire. And there is nothing we, as sinful men and women, can do about it. There is nothing that our governments can do about it. There is nothing that Extinction Rebellion can do about it. There is nothing that Al Gore or Greta Thunberg can do about it. But what we can do about it is to be ready for the coming judgement.

And it is coming…

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3: 9-10)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement (Hebrews 9:27, KJV)

Please be sure of your salvation from the fiery judgment to come. Make your peace with the God who made the earth and everything on it. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

And in the meantime, be good stewards of the earth, it is the only home we have for now.

(All Bible quotations are from the NASB, unless stated)

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!