Climate Change versus the REAL Problem
By Barbara Henderson
Unless you have been living under a #3 washtub the last twenty years, you have heard that climate change is going to be the end of us all. According to celebrity analysis of imaginary evidence, in even years we are facing a coming ice age where everyone will go the way of the mastodon. In odd numbered years, we are facing global warming that will cause all mankind to swelter in terrible heat until we all drown because of the melting of the polar ice caps. I suppose that in leap years the celebrities cannot agree as to whether the earth is facing cooling down or heating up. During those times, they just say we are facing climate change.
I suppose that weather has been a subject of interest since time began. It seems that the weather is never cooperative. It is hotter than we want it, or cooler than we want it. The weather is sunny when we need rain, and it is rainy when we need sun.
When Jesus Christ lived in the land of Judea 2000 years ago, people were also concerned with the weather. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and the Sadducees in Matthew 16:2-3. It says;
V2. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
V3. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Now, isn't that something. These Pharisees and Sadducees were worrying about the weather. They thought they could predict the weather. Since Jesus mentions this, I suppose they spent a lot of time and energy worrying and predicting. They were too busy to see the living sign of Jesus Christ walking among them. They were too busy keeping their minds occupied with something else - anything else - just anything other than facing the truth that they must chose Christ or reject Him.
Today, we have even churches getting into the 'save the planet' movement. Christian people are trying to live 'green', meaning they are always conscience of their own 'carbon footprint' and its impact on the planet. These are ignorant Christians if they are even Christians at all. They are forgetting that:
The earth has a savior - it is Jesus Christ.
The earth has a sustainer - it is Jesus Christ.
The earth has a King over all kings and Lord over all lords - it is Jesus Christ.
Jesus does not need our help to 'save the planet'. In order for Jesus Christ to succeed in His plan for the earth, there is no help from anyone required. Jesus has the power and authority to carry out His plan without any help for anyone.
Jesus does want obedience from His children. This obedience to God is shown in the actions His followers.
Climate change began when sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit.
The climate changed drastically again when the flood came and covered the earth. Prior to that time, the earth had not even seen rain.
These climate changes were for the worse. A climate change is coming that is for the better. When Jesus sets up His kingdom at the end of the tribulation, the earth will be blessed with a climate that literally causes the rose to bloom and weeds to perish. The 'climate' will also be changed between God and mankind. The hearts of all mankind will be at peace with God. From that peace will flow peace over all the globe. In that kingdom, the myrtle (representing Israel) will flourish. Briars (unbelievers) will not be in that kingdom.
It is a major error for churches in general and Christian individuals to get caught up in attempting to save the planet through micromanaging how individuals live. It profits nothing, neither in this life or the next. It is busy work: in reality, it does nothing but make a few people feel good about themselves and their own works.
What is necessary that is often lacking is that Christians pay attention to living a life that is pleasing to God. We are supposed to follow His example in all that we do.
Romans 14:19 says, 'Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 corinthians 14:1
1 Timothy 6:11 says, 'But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness
Do you care about the planet?
Do you care about he future?
Do you wonder what is the best way to show the world you care?
It is pretty simple.
Live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
Love one another the way Christ does.
Forgive one another the way Christ does.
Be obedient to God and all the commandments.
If you want to have less of an impact on the earth, live moderately and don't be wasteful.
Forget the baloney Al Gore spouts that he can live a very lavish and wasteful lifesty|e because he 'offsets his carbon footprint by making up for his wastefulness in other areas'. What a joke. As usual, a politician is setting himself above the burdens that he is placing on other people backs. The Bible says woe to such men. (Luke 11:46 'And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.')
Honestly, we are so bombarded with climate change disaster scenarios that it seems there is no escape from hearing of our impending doom. Actually, doom is impending. However, climate change is not the hammer that will bring doom and destruction to this planet. To fixate on climate change as earth's biggest challenge is to worry about a misplaced grain of sand on Miami Beach.
The real problem is simply the same problem of which mankind has been warned since the fall from grace. Mankind is separated from God Almighty because of sin. A very simplified version of sin is simply that while is God is utterly perfect in person, thought, and deed, mankind is utterly and completely imperfect in person, thought, and deed.
Now how is mankind going to be reconciled to God?
The individual must repent of sin, and ask Jesus Christ to become their lawyer. Christ, the Barrister of barristers, has never lost a case.
Honestly, to attempt to 'save this planet' is to attempt to save the world order as it stands now. It is imperfect and filled with sorrow, death, and injustice.
This does not cause despair to Christians who seek to live lives that are holy and dedicated to our God and our King; because, we know that a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness is coming.
Instead of trying to save this planet, it is better to tell others of the new world that is coming. It is world whose builder and ruler and sustainer is God.
Instead of song I am adding 2 Peter 3:10-13 here. It gives us the promise of a sure and wonderful future. I want all mankind to hear about that future, and have the opportunity to choose it as their very own future.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
If you are a Christian, then your home in the new heavens and a new earth is already secured. In order that others may be persuaded to choose the same future as you have chosen, live your life in holiness to the Lord. I think that means in increasing holiness. In other words, as you study the Bible and apply Bible teachings to personal actions you become less of a sinner than you were before. That does not gain you salvation, but it does gain you a closer walk with the God of your salvation. It makes you a beacon on a hill, a leader, who leads others to the Lord.
Verse 14 of that passage says, 'Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, blameless.
Barbara Henderson
