We've seen it all over the news for many years now.
It dominates discussions by world leaders whenever they meet.
It's difficult to go through a week without hearing someone in the media talk about it.
It's an obsession on both sides of the issue.
People are passionate about it for many reasons - either arguing our world will soon cease to exist or claiming it's all just a hoax.
I'm not here to argue either point, as it would be fruitless to do so.
I do, however, question those who would look to blame mankind for these developments.
We're told storms are becoming more frequent and severe.
We're told crops are failing, causing food shortages and hunger in various places.
We're shown videos of devastating, violent meteorological events occurring all over the world.
It's truly frightening to watch.
We would all agree we'd like it to stop.
No compassionate person wants to see others suffer.
Our hearts break when we hear of someone who's lost everything they own.
But what if I told you this was all predicted thousands of years ago?
What if I told you this is all part of a much larger plan?
What if I said there is a light at the end of this tunnel far more brilliant than anything we've ever experienced?
From the proper perspective, this is very similar to what women experience just before giving birth to a child.
Don't get me wrong.
I couldn't possibly understand what women experience during labor, but I do know this: What begins with excruciating pain and difficulty on every imaginable level eventually leads to the most wonderful feeling known to mankind.
Holding that newborn baby for the very first time.
How do I make the connection between global warming and childbirth?
I didn't.
Jesus did.
While I'm no scholar on biblical prophecy, I do have enough common sense to see the obvious.
When asked what signs we should look for regarding the end times, Jesus said:
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:6-8
Just the beginning of birth pains...
How do birth pains progress?
They begin with contractions being some time apart and less intense than those coming later.
As the birth of a child draws near, they become far more frequent and intense.
Later, Jesus says:
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Mark 21:25-26
Does any of this sound like what we're seeing going on around us?
I believe it does.
If it's true what we're seeing pertaining to climate change was all predicted in biblical prophecy thousands of years ago, wouldn't it also be true there's nothing we can do to prevent it?
If so, why are so many nations bankrupting themselves by spending trillions of dollars to stop it?
Why is the topic of conversation always based upon what we're doing to the earth to cause this?
I believe it's being done to distract us from what's actually coming - the glorious return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was speaking of these things, he wasn't just talking about future events pertaining to the earth.
He was, instead, leading up to his eventual return, saying:
"Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened." Luke 21:32
Again, birth pains...
To some, this might seem like pure insanity.
You may ask how I'd dare to make a connection between some old book and what's happening with the weather in the world today?
However, when we realize these words were written over two thousand years ago in a book that has never once been wrong in it's predictions of what will occur in the future, it might be a good idea to ensure we're prepared.
So how should we prepare?
Pray.
Ask God to speak to your heart on these things.
Ask Him to teach you what you need to know.
If you do, He will.
Things will seemingly star popping up out of nowhere.
You'll hear people saying things that all appear to be somehow connected.
It just happens.
You don't need to fully understand it when it does.
You only need to trust Him with whatever He gives you for this day.
