There is a cold front moving in to the North East, and Nor'easters are being warned to get read for a snowy Thanksgiving. Did you know that Jesus warned of a cold front in the last days: the love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:12)? The last letter written to the churches in Revelation
3 is Laodicea, characterized as a lukewarm
church. Today, the number of passionate believers in Jesus is decreasing
while lukewarm-ness accelerates to near apostasy.
Do you know that the Bible prophecies a strong
delusion (2 Thess. 2:11), like a freezing wind, will numb out everyone (including lukewarm believers) in the last days. And then, when the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, this freeze will move in and make everyone so cold they no longer feel the love of God. Is this why Jude says, Keep yourselves in the love of God
(Jude 21), and Paul, Be on fire with the Spirit (Rom. 12:11)? When you see this cold front moving in, watch your heart. Don't be left out in the cold!
The hottest summer on record is causing even sensible people to wonder, ‘Has global warming arrived?’ A brand new book called, “Global Weirdness: Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas and the Weather of the Future,” has advanced the debate. The dry summer of 2012 is likely to spark heated discussions in the 2012 presidential race.
Should this be a hot topic for Christians? “Aren’t we called to be stewards of God’s creation?” you ask. The short answer is ‘yes.’ But the long answer must include an eternal view. Two thousand years ago Peter warned of global warming. “The present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, in which the heavens will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works burned up. Then, a new heaven and earth” (2 Pet 3:7-10, ed.).
Peter's next words are key in answering our question. “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord” (2 Pet 3:11-12, ed.). Peter emphasizes issues of the heart before the environment. But that doesn't give us permission to abuse the earth while we're here. It's not ungodly to recycle!
Scorching temperatures and dry skies have created the worst drought in the United States in over a half century. I don't think this portends the end of life in America as we know it. But I know some will be quoting OT verses claiming that God is passing judgment on a sinful nation. On the other hand, the Bible does declare a time of judgment when the earth will be destroyed with intense heat and will be laid to waste along with its inhabitants (2 Peter 3:10; Isa 24).
Throughout the Bible, God portrays Himself as Ruler over the elements. He used extreme weather to destroy Noah's world. He used extreme weather to confound and defeat Israel’s enemies. Likewise, Jesus demonstrated power over the wind and sea. Clearly, God uses weather for His purposes.
Yes, a colossal apocalyptic weather event will occur in the day of the Lord. But short of that, does God speak through extreme weather events today? Consider this: will it not bring farmers to their knees? Will it not bring consumers to theirs? And nations to despair? Is America’s drought the beginning of the end? I don’t know. But clearly, it is a very effective tool to get our attention—both personally and corporately. Peter puts it in perspective for us: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be?” (2 Peter 3:11). Are you feeling the heat?
