There’s a lot of talk about global warming right now, but not everyone, including the scientists, seems to be able to agree about its causes. I guess no one wants to take the blame for spoiling the planet and, as is quite common these days, everyone has other problems and pressures that seem more important. Instead of trying to reduce the causes, we’d rather explain global warming away with theories that suit our politics, or just ignore it and stick our heads in the sand. The problem, after all, isn’t really going to affect us for another 50 years, so why not just leave it to the next generation to sort things out? As long as we can keep our way of life going, why should we bother with some future issues?
But if that was the case and no one ever thought about bettering the future, we’d still be living in caves and walking around in animal skins. We’d die of septic poisoning each time we cut our fingers on a flint rock. We’d live to the ripe old age of 35 and possibly die of an abscess in our tooth. We’d freeze in the winter and get roasted during the summer, plagued by swarms of insects.
In the last five hundred years, due to the Protestant Reformation, we’ve come a long way. We’ve cured many diseases, built superior dwelling places, and flown to the moon. We’ve managed to overcome the elements and added fifty years to our life expectancy. God has given us great minds, great gifts, and great skills to fill the earth and rule over it. So why aren’t we doing something about global warming?
I guess greed is the biggest stumbling block. I’ve heard politicians say that fixing the planet would ruin commerce and trade, but if the planet becomes uninhabitable, then there’s no global economy!
When God gave us the gift of ruling over the earth, He wanted us to look after it, not destroy it. The trouble is that we have chosen to dominate the earth rather than have dominion over it. We have selfishly harvested its finite resources, instead of being good stewards.
When I look at the youngest of our kids in church, I often wonder what kind of a world we’re going to leave them. It’s up to us now to do something to save their future, rather than serving ourselves.
Prayer: Lord God, we’ve created a mess out of Your creation. We’ve allowed ourselves to be motivated by greed and power, instead of goodwill and peace. Forgive us for foolishly ignoring the signs of the times. Help us to harness our knowledge, skills, and resources to heal this jewel called Earth, this planet that we call home. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
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