Weather Upheavals!
Marcel Dion
October 6, 2024
St Paul tells us that "creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God...because creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:19, 21). Creation, as we know, was and continues to be adversely affected by humanity's fall from grace, by SIN. But creation itself did not rebel against God as we have, and somehow knows/understands that we have been promised a "new heaven and a new earth!" In other words, something that God has inscribed in creation itself longs for that promise to be fulfilled.
Therefore, when humanity (generally speaking) rebels against God and is indifferent to His ways - as much of the planet is now - creation necessarily rebels against us in an attempt to restore itself under the dominion of God! That means that storms and natural disasters are in no way a punishment from God, but rather a salutary consequence of our sin, in order to shake us up and wake us up from our rebellion and indifference, or whatever it may be that is keeping us from confident trust in our loving Father rather than a prideful reliance upon our own fallen resources.
This "natural law" obviously sheds light on the extreme weather patterns we are seeing occur on a global scale. The recent hurricane on the eastern seaboard of the United States for example, not only caused damage but has completely wiped out entire towns. A hail storm in Calgary in early August rained down baseball-sized hail, causing over 2 billion dollars in damage! Natural disasters of every kind are not only increasing in number but also increasing in intensity. This is neither a fluke or the result of global warming. It is an unavoidable consequence of the increase of sin in the world. It is a wake up call from God. It's not the only way He is trying to get our attention, but it certainly is one of the ways that He is!
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Further understanding of our current extreme weather patterns can be gained by considering the biblical concept of "blessings and curses". Chapter 28 of the book of Deuteronomy reveals to us both the "Blessing for Obedience" as well as the "Warnings against Disobedience". Simply put, things go well when we follow the ways of God and live by faith and trust in God's goodness, and things don't go so well when we reject or ignore God's wisdom. That's why the Lord is so diligent and persevering in His attempts to draw us back to Himself.
You've no doubt noticed that we regularly quote one particular verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14, that provides us with a concise solution to this and every other challenge that we are now facing. It speaks of a humble return to God. It is a verse of Scripture that Linda and I endeavour to live by, one that holds out much hope to us all; hope for healing and restoration for ourselves and for all of creation that is "longing for the revelation of the sons of God!"
"If my people, who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land"
