“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in together until now… Kua kite oki tatou e, te ngunguru anake nei te au mea katoa I angaia mei te mamae anau ra e tae rava akenei ki teianei ra” – Romans/Roma 8:22.

Humanity once learned a first and hard lesson in judgment of a flood. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. And God said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. And the Lord said unto Noah, come thou and thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. And thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” – Genesis 6: 5, 8; 7:1; 6:22. Humanity’s sins, wickedness, lawlessness and godlessness brought judgment upon his/her own self. Where we’re at now? We are now at a time where nowhere is safe?

Climate change is posing unpredictable weather threats and challenges causing rising sea levels affecting low lying island nations, rising temperatures causing flash floods, ice melting, flash fire outbreaks, more severe earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones across diverse nations. There is loud global outcry to reduce or cut down on gas emissions but all falling on deaf ears, let alone uncontrolled outbreak of violence, lawlessness and ungodliness. The ignorance, arrogance, egos and wickedness of humanity keeps rising to a level where he/she blatantly and vehemently denies there is a God, no Creator, but he/she alone is in control and in charge of his own earthly and natural destiny.

Why then is there climate change? Where and when the sacred and holy is violated as in the days of Noah it becomes volatile, dangerous and deadly. Nothing ever exists without a Creator. Nothing ever exists without a first cause and prime mover who alone also holds the balance of life and power in the entire universe. In all cases, creator or owner must first be respected foremost than the created or creatures with all rules of honour, respect, loyalty, accountability, sustainability and life obeyed and complied with. The preamble of the Genesis creation story – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the foul of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God saw that everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” – Genesis 1:1, 27, 28, 31.

God gave humanity power and authority to have dominion over every living thing that moveth upon the earth as the above scripture states, yet, still a little lower than the angels who ministers directly to God. Both humanity and angels are under subjection to God, as stated in Psalm 8:5. Otherwise, humanity is but only expected to be wise and faithful steward, servant or custodian who awaits expectantly for his Lord and Master’s return with his own reward therewith to bless virtues of loyalty and faithfulness – Luke 12: 36 – 48.

Is climate change another doomsday warning like Noah’s day? Absolutely not! But it is a sign of what is to come. Before the second coming of Christ and what the Bible calls the day of the Lord, there will come a strong spirit of delusion, deception, and disbelief. “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”– 2 Peter 3: 3 – 12.

Is there any wonder why almost all communist super powers of the world, with their nuclear arsenals, are holding their own summit meetings just as the western world leaders are holding theirs as well. What similarity or contrast is there with Noah’s flood and Peter’s prophesy? In contrast, Noah’s was a purging of the earth, whereas Peter’s both heaven and earth. In similarity, judgment is judgment as sin is sin, penalty of it is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. What is the provision for escape? While the ark was a preparing wherein eight souls were saved by water, the like figure even baptism also now save us by the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3: 21, 22). Psalm 1:6 concludes: “For the lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish”. Why neglect so great salvation – Obey John 3:3,5, 7 and Acts 2: 38, 39.

Have a safe and blessed Jesus weekend. Kia Ora no Iesu, Amene!

• Bishop Tutai Pere of the Apostolic Church