The headline of an article in the ‘Daily Mail’ of 30th September attracted my attention.
It read:
Earth’s vital signs are flashing red: Seven of nine key systems have been breached – as scientists warn ‘we’re rapidly running out of time’
While I am not inclined to ‘swallow’ the announcements and assertions of modern scientists, the majority of which believe the anti-scriptural, ‘Theory of Evolution’ This in itself would give grounds to any true Christian to view with a healthy measure of scepticism what they say. Nevertheless, there are points made in the very long report that are worthy of note.
The group that issued the report, the Planetary Health Check 2026, states the following regarding it.
‘The Planetary Health Check is a yearly report on the state of our planet. It presents the most up-to-date assessments of the Planetary Boundaries, gives thorough introductions into cutting-edge science, and spotlights especially relevant aspects of our planet’s health. In this 2026 edition, we place a special focus on carbon sinks and novel entities.’
It goes on to claim:
‘Human activities have pushed Earth beyond its Safe Operating Space. The planet’s natural resilience is weakening: Global warming is accelerating, ecosystems are showing clear signs of degradation, and early warning signs of tipping points are emerging in key systems. We have entered the Anthropocene — an era where human activity dominates the Earth system.’
Accept
That I can most certainly accept. I have often thought of that symbol of modern man’s ‘littering’, situated in the Pacific Ocean and called, ‘The Great Pacific Garbage Patch’.
It is a large mass of rubbish floating in the middle of the ocean and located in the central North Pacific between Hawaii and California.
It covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres —roughly twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France!
Origins
All of us may see the origins of such a horrendous manifestation of the thoughtless, inconsiderate mind of our modern global society, scattered along the grass verges of our roads!
The loutish behaviour of those who mindlessly throw out of their car window that which they are too imbecile to bring home and dispose of properly, is the mindset that is the fountainhead of the Earth’s pollution!
Little
But of course such actions contribute but little to the over all despoiling of the earth in comparison to the greedy international marketeers, who plunder the earth’s resources for their own enrichment. This they do under the guise of providing mankind with what it requires!
Doubtless, the feeding of the greediness of society by such merchants is all part of the overall equation!
The following headline illustrates the consequences of the greed for profits of the reckless ‘barons of industry’!
South West Water fined almost £8m for sewage spillages at Devon and Cornwall beauty spots
Such crimes display a total disregard for the health and safety of the local populace.
That ‘Sky News’ report states:
‘The sentence at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday came after the water company pleaded guilty to 18 charges relating to incidents across Cornwall and Devon between January 2015 and July 2021.’
The spillage sites included popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats at some of the most scenic places in the two counties, according to the Environment Agency (EA).’
But back to the ‘Scientific Assessment of the State of Our Planet’, given in the ‘ Planetary Health Check 2026’.
Solution
The report does not merely issue a warning but it offers a solution.
‘To safeguard the Earth’s resilience and stability, we must bring the planet back into its Planetary Boundaries. These boundaries are scientifically defined guardrails that ensure the Earth’s health. Stay within them, and the Earth stays our dependable home — breach them, and we risk irreversible damage to our very own life support system. Today, seven out of nine boundaries have been transgressed.’
Please note, ‘ . . . we must bring the planet back into its Planetary Boundaries.’
If pigs could fly!!!!!!
That is the equivalent of requesting the thieves and robbers which abound, to clear up the crime rate in our cities!
It equates to asking the ‘drug barons’, living high off the £millions they make off those miserably addicted to their devilish products, to abolish the use of drugs, the victims of which sadly litter the footpaths of every large town and city.
It cannot happen!
But while dismissing their solution, we should note what they say of the problem that they perceive and are obviously very concerned about
I. I DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN FROM THE ’SCIENTIFIC WORLD’, SUCH A STARK DECLARATION OF ALARM ABOUT THE STATE OF THE EARTH’S ENVIRONMENT !
This report on the state of our planet’s ‘health’ was written by more than ‘60 international scientists’.
I freely confess that there is much in this report that is ‘gobbledegook’ to me!
But then I might observe regarding these scientists that much that is sweet and precious to me in the Bible, is likewise outside the remit of the understanding of these gentlemen of science!
No Dispute
I do not dispute what they claim regarding the alarming state of the Earth. Rather, I too would believe that the planet has suffered greatly at the hands of mankind.
We should remember Who the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is.
He is the Lord Jesus Christ!
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist,” Colossians 1:12-17.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds,” Hebrews 1:1-2.
Care of the Earth
The Lord instituted laws by which men should care for the Earth. Let me give but one example.
He instituted a ’Sabbath’ of rest for the land, whereby the soil would be given an opportunity to recover.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard,” Leviticus 25:2-4.
That was not fully observed in Israel nor is it universally observed today. Our rivers are polluted and fish are killed by the spillage from lands sprayed with manure and fertiliser in an effort to replenish the depleted soil.
It would be argued that it would be unreasonable to expect farmers to cease to cultivate their fields for a whole year every seven years!
The Lord never made an unreasonable demand of any of His creatures. It is the rejection of God’s law as ‘unreasonable’ that has contributed to the planet being in the state it is today!
II. FURTHERMORE, I FIND THAT LONG BEFORE THERE EVER WAS A GROUP OF ‘60 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTISTS’ VOICING CONCERN, THE BIBLE DECLARED THAT THE EARTH WAS DYING AS A RESULT OF MAN’S SINFULNESS.
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” Romans 8:22.
The word “groaneth” is a reference to the pains on the onset of death, while the words “travaileth in pain” are a reference to birth pangs.
The Curse
Because of man’s fall into sin, the earth has partaken of the curse that befell Adam.
“And unto Adam he (God) said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:17-19.
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left,” Isaiah 24:5-6.
Dying
From the moment man sinned and defied the Lord, he began to die. So too did the Earth from the moment the curse of God was pronounced against it because of Adam’s sin.
Death has marked the years of time and it has also been working within the physical creation as well, aided of course by man’s self-indulgent abuse of it.
Daily, men hasten their own demise by their foolhardiness! By the consumption of alcohol and the partaking of drugs and by needlessly risking their lives in the pursuit of pleasure and sporting pastimes. By general carelessness and thoughtlessness, mankind expedites an earlier demise!
So then, the Bible tells us ‘death’ will come upon the Earth. But there is also a ‘birth’ planned by God for His creation!
This again is revealed to us in the ‘good old Book’, the Bible!
Reserved
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. . . . But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless,” 2 Peter 3:7, 10-14.
When?
Just when will this take place?
The Bible reveals that soon the Lord will come “with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him,” Revelation 1:7.
Upon His return in glory, the Lord will take to Himself the reins of the government of this world.
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15.
During the the initial 1000 years of His reign, His saints will reign with Him and the world will know a time of great peace and blessedness for man’s sin will be restrained and the devil will be imprisoned.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years,” Revelation 20:1-4.
Often referred to!
This is the period spoken of on many occasions in the Old Testament, Isaiah chapter 2 being one of the best known reference.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more,” Isaiah 2:2-4.
THEN
At the end of the 1000 years, there will take place the judgment and damnation of the devil and all who believed him and rejected the Gospel of Christ. There will also take place the ‘death’ and ‘resurrection’ of Creation, spoken of by Peter in his second epistle and already quoted.
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away,” Revelation 20:7-21:1.
Faintly
What the scientists faintly see are signs of the dying of a creation blighted by man’s sin. What they cannot see or understand is the finale planned by the Lord.
All they can see in their folly, if something is not done by mankind to reverse the downward trends, is the annihilation of the human race!
The videos featuring Sir David Attenborough, have him making frequent references to the horrific impact of selfish man’s devastating and ruinous behaviour and him making futile appeals for action to be taken to turn this dreadful trend around!
Such appeals are like an attempt to stop the Niagara Falls with a teaspoon!
Mankind, since the earliest times, has lived to deny God and His Word.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” Psalm 14:1.
Yet even fools, at times, are forced to admit the truth! The example of those sent to arrest the Lord Jesus by His haters amongst the Jewish leaders is but one.
“And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man,” John 7:44-46.
Wonderful Day!
However, there is a day coming when ALL will acknowledge the truth concerning our blessed Lord and Master, even those writers of this report.
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” Romans 14:11-12.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-11.
But only some will own Christ as Lord and Saviour. They are those who by faith have embraced the saving mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. By heeding the Gospel call and receiving Christ by faith, you will be amongst that blessed multitude for all eternity.
O please heed these words!
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,” Acts 16:30-31.
“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:7-9.
Act today, dear reader, for the time is short!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)