Tessa & Teun de Ruiter
may all your days be blessed this year
Global environmental and moral
renewal
(All things will be made new)
Pastor T. J. de Ruiter, The Netherlands
Introduction
Environmental experts are sure that the human race is causing an enormous environmental global pollution with great speed. And ethical and religious leaders warn for a global moral pollution. They are right too, for immorality, violence, crime and injustice ruin the lives of millions.
In spite of international conferences little is being accomplished to change this course for disaster for the human race. The harmful developments are not stopped and new problems emerge continuously, such as the fatal pollution through nuclear energy and even the growing possibility of the use of nuclear weapons.
Will the human race of its own, be able to change decisively this disaster course? I very much doubt it - and many with me. We know that the fallen human nature is basically egoistic, rebellious and bent to do evil. Knowing this, the promise of universal and total renewal as given in the Bible by prophets and hole writers - read for instance 2 Peter 3:13 - is very interesting and worth to explore. It gives hope in this problematic day and age. The Holy Scriptures are certain: God has a plan; let me briefly lay this before you in this article.
God has a plan....
In 2 Peter 3:10 we find an interesting and important statement: "And the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up - or found." Everybody understands that with 'works' the inventions, achievements and installations of the human race are meant. God wants us to know that there will come a day when He will reveal the true nature and the destructive powers of the works of humanity and that He shall destroy them.
But before that day arrives, He permits things to develop according to the will, intelligence and ambitions of the human race. In His eternal and wise counsel He has permitted the godless, autonomous and foolish will to show what it can or cannot do. This is difficult to understand, but we must realize that God is not shown to be passive or weak in permitting evil to exist and come to fullness. No, it is His sovereign will that this will be so - for a limited time. After all He gave the greatest gift to human beings to have a free will. "If this is what they want, go ahead with it," He says, "but there will come a day when I will make an end to it."
As said above, slowly it becomes clear to those who have eyes to see, what man is doing to himself and his environment - he is making a mess of it - and a big one too. In view of the coming environmental disasters as forecasted by scientists it is important to look at our interpretation of some Holy Scriptures, especially the apocalyptic, like the book of Revelation. For the last book of the Bible gives us an insight with highly symbolic pictures and scenes in what we can expect in days ahead of us, the last phase of the present worldorder.
In Revelation 15:5-16:21 we read of great disasters coming upon the earth and his inhabitants. It could well be that these disasters are caused by man himself as the result of his works of pollution and evil violence. Of course, he is inspired by evil powers in higher, invisible spheres to his godless and stupid works. However, God knew from eternity about these developments and permitting them - in fact they could not even happen without His will - He keeps the ultimate control. The natural laws and processes, when disobeyed and abused by man, release dreadful forces and pour out the wrath of God. The ultimate control over everything is given to the Lamb on the throne, Jesus Christ as Revelation so clearly shows. He opens the seven seals, that make it possible for these events to happen; read Revelation chapters 6,7 and 8. The eternal truth stands - even in dark days: God is on the throne!
Now, when the day comes that God will say: "Enough is enough," Jesus Christ, destined to be King of kings and Lord of lords will come, judge and bind the evil in the spiritual world and on this planet. Then He will launch an enormous program of total renewal of the face of the earth and the atmosphere of the planet. Then will the promise be fulfilled we find in Revelation 21:5, "And He who sat upon the throne said, Behold, I will make all things new."
Jesus Christ will secure a threefold program of renewal
1. A renewal of power
When God makes an end to the godless developments,
Jesus Christ will become King of all the earth and set His throne in Jerusalem;
Isaiah 60:3; Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15,17. Can you think of somebody
else, who would be more suitable and worthy than Jesus
Christ, the Lover of all men, who gave
His life as a sacrifice to reconcile them with the eternal, Most High God?
2. A renewal of morality
When Jesus reigns righteousness will prevail
on the whole earth. Godly, morally pure values and standards will be taught
and be kept. The righteousness of God will bring global peace, order and
safety - things we so much desire now; Isaiah 11:5-9; Isaiah 32:1; 2 Peter
3:13.
3. An environmental renewal
There will be clean, pure water. We know - scientists
are sure about it - that it is becoming a big future problem to secure
clean water for all. But when the Great King will reign on earth, the earth
will be restored in a state of paradise with beauty, cleanness and fertility;
Isaiah 11:6-10; 41: 18-20; 2 Peter 3:10, 13; Revelation 22:1-5.
What a beautiful future God has planned! But, alas, we are still living in the time, that human knowledge and ability are allowed to show what they can achieve. And, slowly though, the intelligent consciousness of many foresee great disasters coming, if political preferences, technological developments and lifestyle do not change soon.
In closing
What should be the attitude of the Christian in this pitiful world?
1. He cannot escape his responsibility in and for this present situation. His first responsibility is to fulfil the mission, Christ gave. But he should realize that this mission contains also the task to be a good steward of the environment, in which we live. After all, God created it for us and gave the earth in our care.
2. He will look forward to the day when the Lord will come and renew everything. This is the ultimate hope for the human race. As a preparation for this new era he should adapt his lifestyle as much as possible to the values of the Kingdom of God.
In the light of the present global political, religious and social developments and Gods future, I call on every Christian not only to think about his responsibility in this day and age, but also to fulfil his obligation to act accordingly in his daily living.
1 January 2004, T. J. de Ruiter, Pastor and Bibleteacher in The Netherlands