The Truth About Climate Change

During my lifetime there has been much debate and discussion over "climate change."  This is not a reference to the changes in weather throughout a day, but a observable pattern which points to global warming.  It seems to be a consensus these days the world is warming up, and have the science to affirm their position.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is viewed as a the proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand, despite any evidence they interpret to counter the prevailing view.

To be honest, I do not see a need to hold tightly any particular view concerning the ever-morphing science of any side.  Since the experts cannot agree, I don't know that even a careful examination of the science behind it can convince me to hold to a rigid view.  Can my opinions outweigh peer-reviewed papers, politicians, or even the man on the street?  Science is a business, and let us not be naive to think the motives of researchers are not without bias or agenda.  Man can prove any point he wants through cherry-picked statistics, so it becomes belief in one expert's interpretation over another just as qualified.  On a unseasonably hot day confirmation bias kicks in:  it must be true.  The reality is, people do what they want, and they believe what they want when it suits them.  Nothing has changed from the beginning.

I am no expert on global climate change, but I can say with absolute certainty climate change is a reality.  Whether we are experiencing climate change now I do not know, but the Bible tells us the entire world will experience a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportion.  No amount of scientific study, monetary investment, energy conservation, or "going green" will stop the inevitable advance of scriptural fulfillment.  What God has said will surely come to pass.  Some will mock this, believing humans through science will provide a lasting solution.  Please.  Science nor medicine has the capacity to stop the advance of death in this world due to sin.  Doctors can prolong lives, but they cannot defeat death.  Only Jesus can do that.  No united group of human beings is capable of stopping the eventual end of the age, the ultimate destruction of the earth, and the creation of new heavens and earth where only righteousness dwells.

With the tragic events unfolding in Nepal following the devastating earthquake, it brings to mind the words of Jesus who predicted earthquakes in various places.  Quoting Jesus in Matthew 24:6-8, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows."  Some shrug off earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, disease, and famine as merely circumstantial because they are nothing new.  For those who believe the words of Jesus, these tragedies point to the reality of the end of this earth - even as labour pangs precede the birth of a child.  Consider what Peter says in 2 Peter 3:1-8:  "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  We are in the last days, and this world is not going to last forever.

During a future period called in scripture the "Great Tribulation," many instances are cited of massive changes of climate.  Being divinely ordained, there will be no scientific answer or hope to counter them.  Revelation 8:7 says, "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up."  A bit later we read in Revelation 16:8-9:  "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory."  The term "global warming" puts it too lightly!  While humans do impact the earth through good or poor management, God remains in control.  The end of the chapter says in Revelation 16:18-21:  "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. ¹⁹ Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. ²⁰ Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹ And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great."  God is going to shake this universe, and no one will escape.

From a biblical perspective, if global climate change isn't happening, it most certainly will.  This world which had a beginning will most certainly have an end.  It was birthed out of water, and it will be consumed in fire.  God has ordained men to be the caretakers of this earth, and we ought to be good stewards of all God has given us.  Worse than contaminated seas from radiation is the sin which has doomed this world to destruction.  The only reason why the earth has continued this long is the grace and goodness of God towards people He loves.  He is gracious to give generations ample time to repent from sin and trust in Him.  Continuing with the 2 Peter 3:8-13, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."  This world will pass away and everything in it, but those who repent and trust in Jesus are granted eternal life.

Looking at the state of the world, there is cause for concern.  But even if every single person on the globe dedicated themselves to saving the planet, convinced of global climate change, it will not stop the grim events predicted in biblical prophecy.  Purify the oceans, replace the ice pack, and plug that dastardly hole in the ozone for good measure, but that will not avert the end.  Man's only hope for salvation is not found in himself, but through faith in Jesus Christ.  Christians do not need to fret over the state of the world without hope, for our confidence and security is found in God alone.  All who fear the LORD can echo the words of the psalmist in Psalm 46:1-3:  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; ³ though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah."  Scorching sun?  Rising oceans?  Earthquakes which rip the earth into pieces?  We will not fear, for God is our refuge and strength.