My wife and I frequently travel through the Australian outback and recently we were struck by the dramatic change in weather as compared to past years.
Over the years we have travelled through outback Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, but have never seen it as green as this year. The vice-like grip of drought on this great country of ours has been so tenacious over the past decade, that to see it green is a true blessing.
We happened to be in Longreach, QLD camping by the Thomson River when the rains came. And it bucketed down. Heavy rain fell continuously for several days and nights. The rainfall broke an eighty one year old record.
We were hopelessly bogged and had to wait several days until the mud dried before we were able to get out. But being bogged as we were gave me plenty of time to consider this dramatic weather event.
Climate Change Argument
Now unless you have lived in a cave without access to any news or civilisation for the last thirty years or more, you will know well that the climate change debate has been raging for decades. Is it real or not? Is it being caused by man or not? Is it just a cyclical pattern the world goes through every few millennia or not? And so on.
Each side of the debate trots out their own group of experts to prove their position and argue the case for or against a changing climate. Arguments are hotly debated, facts are questioned and disputes rage over data. And then there are the "dirty tricks" that occur to discredit each party's experts.
So what do we the public believe, who do not have the scientific backgrounds to test what is being said? How can we know the truth when even the scientific arguments are often couched in emotion and rhetoric?
What the Bible Says
Experience has taught me many times over the years, that there is only one source of truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The truth comes from God, and He has given us His words and His insights to guide us in the Bible. So what does the Bible say about climate change?
The Bible says many things that point to a changing climate in the end days. Jesus said, "...there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." (Luke 21:11). He also said, "...and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world." (Luke 21:25-26) John wrote, "The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire; men were scorched by the fierce heat" (Revelation 16:8-9) And finally, "...great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague." (Revelation 16:21)
These words were written nearly two thousand years ago and they all point to a time of climate stress in the end days. What causes famine and pestilence but changes in weather patterns? What is the "roaring of the sea and waves" that would cause men to be perplexed and to faint with fear and foreboding? Tsunamis caused by earthquakes? What about the increase in heavy hailstorms that have wreaked destruction in recent years and the scorching sun that sends lands into vicious drought.
These things are all indicators of climate change and were prophesied two thousand years ago.
What is the Truth?
There is one more thing we learn from these prophecies of two thousand years ago. Man cannot change these things. Man cannot control them, and of more importance, while man may have contributed in some way to some of these disasters, these things are not the result of man but were designated by the hand of God.
And from that we can take comfort, knowing that God is in control. He has promised to save and rescue His people from trial and tribulation and He will keep His promises. So we do not need to fear a changing climate. It is part of His master plan.
So what is the truth of climate change? Is it real? Does it exist? Yes. Absolutely it is real. The truth of it is this. Climate change was pre-ordained by the hand of God. It is happening according to His purpose and His plan as established by Him from the beginning, so fear not.
Since retiring from work, John Lemmon now spends his time teaching, preaching and writing about the word of God, answering God's call on him to "Speak to my people." John and his wife Colleen travel all over Australia and you will often find him playing guitar or ukulele outside their caravan somewhere in the Great Outback. You can connect with John on Twitter (@JohnBLemmon) or on his Christian Bible study blog (freegiftfromgod.com/blog).
John Lemmon's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/john-lemmon.html