If You Only Look At One Chart This Month, Look At This One
There is a reason that God did not want sin to enter the universe, and that is because it destroys everything it touches. Sin is, at its core, rebellion against God and rejection of God, and it separates creation from Creator. Since God is the source of all life and the maintainer of order (we could better say the maintainer of ultimate sustainability), separation from God ends in death. This curse of sin extends not just to man, but to the earth as well. Specifically, we can see the cumulative effects of sin in the ever accelerating decay and decline of the natural systems created to sustain life on this earth. Our atmospheric system, our oceanic system, our climate system, our fresh water system, our cryosphere (polar ice caps and glaciers), our food production system (the sum of our soil system and its partner systems and subsidiary systems). We are the first generation to be able to see (and chart and graph) the accelerating decay of our world’s supporting systems. Recognition of this should lead to alarm and a re-examination of our priorities and our relationship with God.
Sometimes we recognize, perhaps dimly, what is going on in the world. We hear a sermon or read scripture or inspired writings and recognize, intellectually, that Christ is returning soon and that this world is very temporary. But then we get involved in the world again and in the pursuit of worldly goals and the recognition of where we are in prophetic history fades. If this describes you, then let me remind you of how quickly the world is decaying (and how quickly prophecy is being fulfilled, by showing you the graph below from the University of Nottingham. It is a graph of the reported incidences of extreme weather around the world. Note the emphasis of the word “reported”. There are probably many instances of extreme weather around the world that go unreported, though we can safely assume that this is less and less the case. But even if we assume that there was a certain amount of unreported extreme weather back in 1990 and 1995, etc., we can also safely assume that it in no way disturbed the very clear trend shown in the graph. The graph does not reflect a reporting error – it reflects an explosion of extreme weather. This trend is juts one more thing that fulfills the prophecy that Christ made about the condition of the earth jest before His return. You can read three reports about that prophecy, each with its own unique details, in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Like 21. When you study what Christ said would be happening in the natural world and in human society, you see that it lines up extremely well with what we are seeing going on around us. More to the point, it lines up very well with where we are so obviously headed.
There are other charts and graphs – increases in natural disasters, increases in large-scale earthquakes, increases in conflicts and societal disruptions, increases in droughts, increases in floods – and they all reflect an exponential increase like the chart above.
We have entered the last days, and we lack the sense of urgency and the sense of mission and responsibility that we not only should have, but that we need in order to endure what is rapidly coming. We need to be seeking an ever closer relationship with Christ. We need to be drawing away from the world. We need to be preparing to meet our Savior.
Scott Christiansen
Scott, did you see this report.
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/drr/transfer/2014.06.12-WMO1123_Atlas_120614.pdf
We constantly need these reminders. Thanks, Scott.
Jane Fish
I find myself more and more thinking of the next world. We have to learn trust in God before we are forced to. But the majority of the world (and believers, unfortunately) are ill prepared for what’s coming.
I think it’s more than just “Keep up your relationship.” or “Dig deeper.” It’s got to be, like what you’re doing Scott, “Look around!” I have a strong sense prayer is also going to be a force we wield (or prayer should be the mechanism to wield the power) to reach this world – our worlds. Our families. Anyone we have influence upon.
You’re so right Scott. Every day I pray to GOD about being used by Him to witness to others in everything I do, from my body, my words, my thoughts and feelings, and my deeds, public, private. I want to be right with GOD and with my fellow human-beings. We’re all GOD’S children, and we have to do our part in spreading JESUS gospel to all the world so that as many people possible will be converted and saved, and become His children spiritually and stop being satan’s children. I’m taking an Earth Science class at Quinsigamond Community College, and I still remember your seminar that I went to last May at Camp Winnekeag. You liked what I had to say and was impressed by what I knew. I was veery impressed with what you said too, and learned some things that I didn’t know! Just to remind you of who I am, my name is Michael, and I have ling hair. Please pray for me to do well in my Earth Science, especially in the lab class part that I have every Wednesday along with the regular class on M-W-F. I pray for GOD to use me to be a mighty witness for Him so that others may see JESUS in me and give their lives to Him! That’s what it’s all about, GOD saving His lost children so that they can be with Him in His Kingdom for eternity, without sin, death, misery, and destruction.Keep up the great work GOD has given you to do, and GOD bless you and your family!