Evidence of a changing climate seems to be among the most talked about subjects we now hear about. It ranks up there with the pandemic and the economy as topics for discussion and to be solved. It makes the headlines almost every day.
Although the activities of mankind have undoubtedly played a large part in our present situation, there is also evidence that large shifts in the climate have occurred, in the distant past, before mankind could have played the part that it seems to be playing now. One theory regarding the disappearance of the dinosaurs has been attributed to a massive climate change. The presence of fossil fuels under desert sands and polar ice indicates that these areas were once plentiful with organic matter.
While we should try to do all that we can to limit our affect on the environment, (God gave us this world to look after) it’s possible that what we are experiencing overall may not be entirely due to our consumption of fossil fuels. Other factors may be also involved to some extent. For example, we are told in Genesis 2:5-6 that before the flood it had not rained on the earth “…for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth…But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Going from a mist that covered the whole earth to a rain as it had never rained before or since would certainly be evidence of a profound climate change.
Now many people consider these events just stories and fables, events which never really happened. But the Bible answers such this way: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19), and “[b]ecause the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25) “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
So if the account in Genesis is correct as the Bible states, and God had such an impact on the climate then, could He not have had a part to play in the changes that took place when the dinosaurs disappeared, the ice age developed, or when the deserts came to be? Could He not be playing a part in what is happening today, even though we as a people certainly have a large influence in what is happening at present?
The irony may be that if we don’t consider the influence God had in the events of the past, we may miss the warnings regarding the events to come. We may be so concerned with our indiscretion regarding our carbon footprint that we ignore the problems brought about by our disobedience. The climate changes taking place now seem to be minor compared to those foretold to be awaiting us in the future. The Bible warns in Matthew 24:6-8 of “…wars and rumors of wars…nation will rise against nation…and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Revelation 6 speaks of peace being taken from the earth (Rev 6:4), widespread famine and death (6:6-8), and of massive earthquakes (6:12-17). Revelation 8 goes on to tell of a third of the trees burned up and all of the grass being destroyed (8:7), of a third of the sea creatures dying and a third of the ships destroyed (8:9), of the stars being darkened and water being made poisonous (8:10-12). Chapter 9 goes on to tell of pestilences and plagues by creatures we have not yet even thought of. This and more all come after peace has been taken from the earth (Revelation 6:4).
Yes, we have climate change to concern us but without a change in our obedience as well as our carbon usage, what we have now may only be a mild inconvenience compared to the catastrophe that awaits us; and that truly is something we should be thinking about.
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