When people feel stressed, end-of-the-world “doomsday” stories surge in appeal. During the cold war, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” scared moviegoers with the terror of monster robot Gort, who could sizzle any weapons turned on him with his laser visor. “Dr. Strangelove” exploited our fears of nuclear war. “Independence Day” massaged our fears of alien invasion.
The 21st century is underway with a very disturbing decade. It began with the collapse of the “dot.com” bubble in the stock market. Then came the 9/11 attacks, followed by invasions of two countries we hadn’t thought were our enemies. The decade groans to an end with two years of miserable recession in which we are all paying for the excesses of greed, carelessness, and stupid risk-taking in our financial system.
People today are stressed with fears of global warming. They receive a considerable amount of information claiming that carbon emissions from everything from coal-fired power plants to cows are inexorably raising earth’s temperature and will cause catastrophic flooding in some places and severe droughts in others.
That’s part of what gives the new movie “2012” such traction. Since one of the characteristics of our age is that people want to be “spiritual” without being Biblically literate, they find inspiration in many interesting myths, even the inscrutable Mayan calendar. Do you know what force really poses the greatest threat to Planet Earth. God. Yep. Have you read II Peter 3 lately? When God returns to his creation in person, he will cause some serious global warming—hot enough to melt the elements.
That doesn’t mean that we are free to abuse our environment. For now it is our home, and God placed us in charge as caretakers. But II Peter 3 is a solemn call to personal repentance, faith in Christ as our Savior, and trust in the Spirit’s Word and counsel. It’s time to live like a traveler and camper. It’s time to look ahead to the beautiful new heavens and new earth that he will create. Once we’re there, we won’t miss the old one.
###
Straight talk. Real hope.
11/24/2009 - Posted by E
This movie is getting a lot of hype. While it may wake some people up to realize there will be an ending of the world, and all the special effects will emphasize how horrible it will be. But we as believers know that no one knows when this will take place, and it will come "as a thief in the night". Best of all, we will see our Lord in all His glory returning to earth as he has promised. So rather than fear the events that are so graphically presented in this movie, we look forward to His second coming to be taken Home to our places in heaven he has prepared for us. Right now at the end of our church year it is fitting to ponder judgement day, and to be watchfull and ready!
11/19/2009 - Posted by DG
You said it so well, Pastor Jeske. People have predicted the end many times before, and books are going to be written for prophet. What really bothers me is how Satan also uses this to get his own own will accomplished - discrediting God' Word. There was an interview on TV the other morning. An "expert" was trying to explain why some people believe & get afraid of 2012. His statement was that many writing in the past have been made to scare people like the book of Revelations and Christians believing the separating of the wheat from the chaff. It angers me to hear comments like this, but then it's just another prophecy of the Bible being fullfilled - Satan being unleashed in the end times.
11/16/2009 - Posted by G
Thank you for your insights, we do live in a chicken little society. I am going to use your blog as a discussion starter with my high school religion class. Great food for thought here. Thanks. 1Corinthians 16:13-14 "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith;be men of courage;be strong. Do everything in love
