Will Mother Earth Survive?
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
I can safely assure you that God isn’t worried about climate change. Others are, however. Watching the Weather Channel this morning, climate change was once again brought into the discussion concerning what’s happening around the world. I get tired of hearing this nonsense.
The real problem isn't climate change. The real problem is Bible illiteracy. That’s it.
Now that being the case, to some degree you can “excuse” the lost world for being up in arms about the imaginary impending demise of the environment. But we have to ask ourselves, as believers, why the current realm of society has such an outlook. It’s easy to wag the finger at them. I’m just not sure that’s fair though.
I tend to point the finger more so at us, God’s people. We know the God who claims responsibility for creating all things. He lays it all out very clearly in the book of Genesis. Therefore is it possible that, in this politically correct environment in which we live, we are afraid to buck the tide and speak the truth when confronted with this issue?
I do get it. You sort of feel stupid when everyone in the discussion is so deeply concerned about what’s happening to the planet. All the while, you know it’s all an unnecessary fear that’s been created for a greater hidden agenda.
To my surprise I hear stuff coming out of the mouths of God’s people that express, to varying degrees, the same unfounded concerns the world has. “Of course,” it’s said by well-meaning believers, “we’re supposed to be good stewards of God’s creation.” No kidding. But that’s not what we’re talking about. That’s just an easy cop out to keep from having to be engaged in a potentially explosive conversation.
Yes, we are to take stewardship of God’s creation seriously. However, we’re not to be taken hostage by it either. God is sovereignly omnipotent. He cares more than any of us about His creation.
Personally, I wouldn’t be too excited about worshipping a God who needs help in saving what He’s designed and created. Most designers maintain a high level of involvement in relation to what they create. God does too.
Recently, I was in a discussion which implied I didn’t care about the environment. It was sort of actually thrown in my face (nicely). Since I’m known as a believer in God I should, it’s thought, be more concerned about the issue than it appears I am. I do care. But, evidently, just not enough.
So what flashed through my mind in that moment of time? The same things that probably flash through your mind: “Oh man, I don’t want to get into this. I just think I’ll keep my mouth shut.
That’ll show I love them in Jesus.”
However, I would like to suggest that when we allow ourselves to be silenced we are really silencing the voice of God. We are the ones God has chosen to proclaim the truth of His Word. Yes, the rocks and the trees could cry out on God’s behalf. But presently they aren’t.
Honestly, in the moment of that encounter, my mind was scrambling. My first urge was to, once again, be “loving” in my response and not provoke anything negative. Not this time though. I simply blurted out that I wasn’t concerned. That immediately brought on a look of incredulity. My next thought: Warren shut up. My next thought: Warren shut up! My next thought: At least say SOMETHING, Warren!
Now mind you, this is the first time this sort of thing has come up and I wanted to be able to have further discussions about the God this person knows I believe in. So, I decisively stated that I wasn’t worried because I’ve read the end of the Book. I know how it ends. (I knew the person could/would make a connection in their mind with the ending of a book.) At that moment, I could see a flicker of understanding comprehension come across the face. What I said had a known factual basis: the Bible itself. A connection was made.
Pretty much everyone knows, even without having read the Bible, that God is the One who initiates the ending of all things. If God initiates the ending, then everything must still be here at the end. And, it appears all will be functioning exactly as it should when the end does come.
We know how it ends because we know the One who gave it all a beginning. He lives within us. His creative abilities were verified in us when we were made new creatures (creations) in Messiah.
Let’s give Him the opportunity to speak through us every once in a while. The Truth is powerful. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
We have good news to share. What we have to say stands in stark contrast to the fear and anxiety that people genuinely do have about the world in which they live. Rightly so. Living life without knowing the God of creation would be frightening.
Rest assured, one day this earth that God created will be filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea.
What a glorious day that will be indeed.