What’s the real problem of Global Warming?
Arrogance.
Here in California where I am, you can no longer build a house with a fireplace. At least “regular” people can’t. I’m sure that with enough money and loopholes, the rich people can do it. But the average person can’t. Because we will make global warming worse.
There are also days when those of us in old houses that do have fireplaces are told we can’t use them. Because we will make global warming worse.
I’m waiting for the day when we’re told we can’t use our outdoor BBQ any more either. Because we will make global warming worse.
Arrogance.
Seriously.
Look at this picture:
This is a picture from a forest fire raging in Alberta Canada as I’m writing this.
Now – ask yourself – does this contribute to global warming?
Does it maybe contribute to global warming more than some fireplaces and bbqs?
And it’s not like this is the only fire. There are lots of them.
When I was in school – we used to be taught that things like forest fires were “nature’s” way of taking care of those forests. The old / dead stuff was burned off so that new growth could take place.
Now – forest fires are the result – not the cause – of global warming.
What changed?
Arrogance!
There was a time when we believed – and taught – that God created everything.
Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Then there came a time where this happened –
Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
That didn’t end well at all. Adam & Eve fell for the trick question and that’s how we got where we are.
But was Satan satisfied with that state of affairs? No. Not at all.
Then the question turned into –
“Did God really say, ” <fill in the blank> “?
Next thing we knew – or maybe more correctly too many didn’t realize – more and more things were questioned. And more and more things that God called good, got thrown by the wayside.
And now – the question has turned into –
Does God really exist?
And for way too many people – the answer is no, he doesn’t.
And for too many others – the answer has been turned into yes, he does, but I have redefined him to be a very small god with little or no actual power over me.
And now?
Now – we’ve reached the point where anyone who even tries to say that maybe God has caused something gets blasted.
So – let’s go for it.
There are many, many times in the Bible where fire is an indication of either God’s presence – or something that God has done.
Furthermore – there are times when the presence of fire is good – and some times where it’s bad.
The word “fire” is in the NIV translation of the Bible 424 times. I invite you to check some of them out to verify what I’ve written. I don’t plan to put them all in here.
In any case – the point is – there are times when things happen that are beyond our control.
I think a lot of people get “lost” in the difference between God having “control over everything” and God having “the ability to control everything”. Sometimes, He allows things to happen, and we may or may not be able to “control” them. Sometimes He causes things to happen – and we may or may not be able to “control” them. But in all cases – we do have the free will to decide how we will “respond” to them.
Translation – sometimes God allows or causes things to happen to wake us up.
Sometimes God allows or causes things to happen to let us know –
He really does exist.
And
He really did say the things in the Bible.
So what does this have to do with global warming?
Consider these words from Paul –
Ro 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Ro 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Yes – all of creation suffers because of what happened with Adam and Eve listening to Satan. And all of creation suffers because we continue to listen to Satan.
And as the global warming alarmists continue to take away more and more of the simple things that we enjoy – like fireplaces in the winter – we suffer more and more in the world that God had once called very good.
And as the global warming alarmists continue to cut down on our freedoms – and claim that they can come up with the conclusions – we all get further and further down the road of questioning God. Maybe asking if His creation was really even good. Maybe even asking if He still exists – or ever existed.
And all this time – we get further and further from the only solution to the problem.
We read in Revelation what it will be like in the next life –
Rev 7:16 Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Which is awesome – don’t get me wrong.
But – do we have to wait until then?
Could things maybe be better right here and now?
Check this out –
Ex 31:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:
God has “taught” us how to do things, ever since the days of Exodus when His people were escaping from Pharaoh in Egypt.
We are arrogant enough to think that everything we know comes from us. It comes from our brain. From our “wisdom”.
But where did that brain come from? From God – who created us.
And what of “our wisdom”?
Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
God gives us knowledge – but what we do with it – that’s up to us. We can do wise things – or we can do foolish things.
Pr 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man,
for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
Pr 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.
Oops.
Conclusion
If we want more things taken away from us –
if we want more problems because of our own foolishness –
turn to other people for our answers.
If we want life the way it was intended by God – the One who created everything and everyone –
then turn away from the foolish answers of people –
and turn to God for His wisdom.
After all – if anyone truly knows the how and why of everything that happens in creation –
including global warming –
it would be God – because it’s His creation.
So let’s turn to Him for answers.
Psalm 120 sums this up quite nicely, so let’s close with its opening verses –
Ps 120:1 I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.
Ps 120:2 Save me, O LORD, from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
For more on arrogance, please see The problem of arrogance.