The topic popped up suddenly one day in March this year. An unexpected invite from a friend to a climate change symposium being hosted by the Jamaica Public Service. My immediate response (see conversation pic below) was something I had been pondering a while now, for I’ve been hearing people concluding conversations so often with what is appearing to be an all-purpose response to any perplexing matter: “You know how it is…it’s really climate change that’s causing all these issues.”
But what really is “climate change” outside the fact that countries globally are experiencing unprecedented climatic changes, and these are negatively impacting our livelihoods? Is there much we can do to reverse it? I don’t think so. As I shared with my friend, in Isaiah 51:6, the LORD adjures us: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.”
HISTORY HAS REPEATED ITSELF 11 TIMES
We tend to believe that all things are under our control, and if we meet, strategise, and implement in our own strength, we will be able to correct what has gone wrong. Have humans contributed to climate change? We certainly have, as we’ve progressed from one form of industrialisation to the next. Can we reverse what we’ve done? Some people truly believe so. And there are some who couldn’t care less. Their heads are buried in the sand, and they are ignoring the signs that the earth is indeed becoming a physically dangerous place in which to live.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation State of the Global Climate report 2025:
2015-2025 were the hottest 11-years on record, and…2025 was the second or third hottest year on record, at about 1.43 °C above the 1850-1900 average. Extreme events around the world, including intense heat, heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones, caused disruption and devastation and highlighted the vulnerability of our inter-connected economies and societies.
The ocean continues to warm and absorb carbon dioxide. It has been absorbing the equivalent of about eighteen times the annual human energy use each year for the past two decades. Annual sea ice extent in the Arctic was at or near a record low, Antarctic sea ice extent was the third lowest on record, and glacier melt continued unabated, according to the report.
“The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
“Humanity has just endured the eleven hottest years on record. When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act,” said Mr. Guterres. (wmo.int/news/media-centre/earths-climate-swings-increasingly-out-of-balance)
‘PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999’
A call for countries to act? Yes, but any action outside of Christ will be in vain.
Many are medicating with music (and a lot of it is old music, too, a topic I’d like to address soon). They know something is amiss with all these catastrophes occurring, but they are choosing to ‘Party Like It’s 1999‘ (Prince’s edition). However, I adjure you, please quit the partying and get your house in order. Hear the word from the good and faithful, ever-loving God: it is not His will for any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
If the earth remained perfect, there would be no signals to indicate that the only home we know is not paradise. With no physical signs of degradation, we would feel no urgency to accept that Christ’s return is imminent now more than ever. Matthew 24 is quickly unfolding.
Like my friend, who was inviting me to the conference, concluded, “Climate change is a farce, but it’s good to know what they are up to, especially concerning food security.” The latter is a whole other matter.
Suffice it to say, let us not be deceived into thinking this earth can be salvaged by man. These adverse occurrences are being allowed by God, who is orchestrating some seemingly bad things for our ultimate eternal good. As dire as things now appear, I believe this is close to our last opportunity to turn to our Creator.
And you need not be depressed or frightened by the seeming mayhem swirling around us either. Be comforted by Matt. 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”, and Rev. 21:1 & 3-6,
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea…And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.