Climate Change

Our generation is aware of climate change. Any time something disastrous happens, we hear it’s because of climate change—flooding, unexpected rain, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. But if we are faithful historians, we will realize such disasters always happen. One well-known disaster was in 79 AD, when Pompeii, a city near Naples, Italy, was completely buried under 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet) of volcanic ash and pumice. The people didn’t even have a chance to run or escape. The same happened to Herculaneum, Stabiae, and many surrounding villas. I am not saying this to devalue the importance of climate change. We all should be responsible for protecting God’s creation, of which we are vital members. I am saying this, however, because something extraordinary will happen within one of those climatic events.

The Lord Jesus said to the disciples,

“A sign will happen in the sun, moon, and stars and upon the earth; distress among the nations to cause them perplexity; seas roar, and sea waves surge; people faint from fear; become apprehensive of what was happening to their dwellings; the powers of the heaven will be shaken. And then, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power and fullness of glory. When these things happen, stand up and lift your heads because your redemption is near” (Luke 21:25–28).

Most scholars think these events are yet to happen, the Lord Jesus’s second coming. Others believe these events have happened twice: at Jesus’s death and resurrection and during the temple’s destruction in 70 AD.

What’s vital in this section is not the timing but the messages. First, within a disastrous time, the Son of Man will appear in his power and fullness of glory. This is true on a tiny scale in all our lives. Often, people come to Christ in crisis times. Soon after the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, churches were full of people wanting answers and comfort. The Lord still appears in people’s hearts amid crises. Second, he always comes with redemption. We tend to think of disastrous times as times of wrath. Although they are painful, they are also times of renewal. We see that when fire destroys a forest. Scientists say life begins again, and some seeds that would not have customarily germinated grow because of the fire breaking their outer shell. Yes, disastrous times are painful, but the Lord is with us to give us redemption. Third, he challenges us to stand up and lift our heads high, not fall victim and lower our heads. Painful events can make us want to give up. But since the Lord comes with redemption in every awful and evil situation, we must look past the events to the redeemer behind them as we wait for redemption.

This is true of end times as well. Whether it has happened or will happen in our times, we shouldn’t focus on times and seasons or disasters and pain. Instead, we must focus on the coming Son of Man, who comes with redemption in his hands. He is the deliverer in our times of need and pain.