At the moment there are over 100 world leaders attending the COP26 conference in Glasgow discussing climate change, they hope to agree on a plan of action that could save the planet from the effects of global warming. If nothing is done, some scientists predict that there will be an average rise in world temperature of between 2 and 5 degrees over the next 60 years. Why is this so significant?
The world used to be finely balanced, rather like a greenhouse, which has a controlled temperature, and its atmosphere is regulated by the amount of water its plants receives. But the atmosphere around our planet (which is there to protect us) is now letting in certain types of harmful rays. The oil-based products (fossil fuels), which we have been burning for about 200 years, have created a sort of additional shield which has the effect of reflecting heat back down upon us. De-forestation is also having an effect upon our planet. All of this has changed, and is changing the natural cycle of our rainfall and our seasons, the sea and wind currents. Hot weather in some instances recently, has been very extreme and has caused massive damage and loss of life. The extra heat, is also causing the melting of polar ice, sending a deluge of fresh water into the sea which is changing salt concentrations, which in turn affects all sea life.
Some have speculated that by 2050 many parts of the planet may not be able to sustain life. Fresh water supply is the critical element. Water has no substitutes. There is no industrial process, to make water or desalination of sea water fast enough, to satisfy demands. Water is going to be scarce. People in Africa and Asia already know all about this. So, what’s to be done? Is there a solution?
Humanly speaking the outlook is bleak, but when God created the world, He said in Genesis chapter 1 that everything was “very good”. He designed our planet to be capable of sustaining life in perfect balance, and has promised a restoration to this state again when His Kingdom is established on the earth.
“For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other” Isaiah chapter 45 verse 18.
“For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14, “… You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those that fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation chapter 11 verse 18. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” Matthew chapter 5 verse 5.
“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 a fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will burn up …
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 10, 13.
God is going to create new heavens and a new earth, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” Isaiah chapter 65 verse 17”.
These promises were written over 2000 years ago and they predict a future which gives us hope for a complete reversal of today’s scientific predictions. God intends the earth to be an everlasting habitation for mankind and has a plan for its restoration and recovery, both physically and morally.
God’s plan for the earth should fill us with hope instead of doom and gloom. He wants us to have a part in His Kingdom and He tells us how we can do so and how we are to prepare ourselves for it, in His Word, The Bible.
Quotations taken from the New King James Bible