God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.” vss. 1-2
Psalm 46:1-6
There are some in these latter days who do believe that climate is changing, but that humans have little if anything to do with it. They point to earth’s history and insist that the changes we see now are just a part of the natural pattern. Others are convinced that the recent warming of the planet is a direct result of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and that those increases have come from greenhouse gas emissions. The psalmist was aware of changes in the earth–and had perhaps experienced earthquakes or volcanic eruptions–and believed that God was humanity’s refuge and strength through droughts and floods and every natural disaster. No matter where we stand in the current debate, climate changes are the challenge of our age. Even if we do manage to slow down the rate of global warming through collective efforts to reduce pollution, there are likely to be a billion or more climate refugees! And the poor will be affected the most! With that apocalyptic future in the cards for our planet, it’s hard not to be discouraged. The psalmist encourages us not to fear, that somehow God will be our refuge and our strength. Certainly there is a ton of resilience built into the creation–and the earth does have a life of its own. It will survive–our hope is that we will too!
Thought for the Day: How will climate change affect my grandchildren?
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