Bulletin Articles
The Sky is Falling!
I am sure many of you have heard the story of “Chicken Little.” It’s an old folk-tale about fearmongering. The title character, Chicken Little, is hit by a falling object, prompting the irrational fear: “The sky is falling!” Soon, Chicken Little is running around warning everyone about the coming disaster. After all, if the sky is falling, it must be the end of the world! Most of those whom Chicken Little warns believe her story without question. The moral of the story is summarized thusly: “Don’t believe everything you’re told.” It is a warning irrational against mass-hysteria.
There are some interesting lessons to be gleaned from this old folk-tale which have application to the actual end of the world. Before I proceed, I want to state for the record that this world will end at some point! Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Mt.24:35; cf. Hb.1:10-12; 2Pt.3:10). This being true, there is no sense in us worrying about it or trying to stop it; it is going to happen! The best thing we can do is to be prepared (Mt.25:13; 1Th.5:1-6).
Nevertheless, over the years, I have heard many people “wring their hands” (metaphorically speaking) in worry over how the end will come. Will we destroy the world by nuclear war? Will we destroy the world by contributing to global warming? And if so, what can we do to stop it from coming? Should we ban all nuclear weapons? Should we lesson our “carbon footprint” to stave off global warming? Then, as with many things in our culture, these worries somehow become political issues, over which people disagree and fight. Some get very agitated if you don’t share their view!
As an evangelist (2Tm.4:5), I am not interested in the political aspect of this. You can believe whatever you want and still be my friend. But I am interested in helping the Christian to stop worrying about such things! In whatever manner the end comes, it is coming! We cannot stop it, no matter what we do! So, stop worrying, and start preparing to meet your Lord in the judgment (2Cor.5:10). If you want to worry about something, worry about being “found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (cf. 2Pt.3:11-14).
I could actually end this article right here, having said enough. But even though I don’t have to do this, I want to point out some things about the state of the world at the second coming of Christ, and then make some application to our topic. Please read and think about the following...
When Jesus comes back, people will still be here, alive and well (1Cor.15:51-52; 1Th.4:16-17). People will be doing business as usual (Mt.20:1-16; cp. 24:36-39). Many will be thinking “all is well,” when it’s not (1Th.5:1-3). But others (read: faithful Christians) will be waiting, expecting, and prepared (1Th.5:4-6). Do you realize what all this means in the context of modern fears of nuclear war, global warming, or some other disaster?
First, it means that WE will not destroy the world by nuclear war, global warming, or some other disaster. (As an aside, I am old enough to remember when we were told that the world was going into another “ice age,” due to global cooling!) It also means that the world is not going to be destroyed by some “natural disaster” (disease, asteroids, alien invasion, etc.). Instead, GOD HIMSELF will destroy the world on a predetermined day which is out of our control (Ac.17:30-31). That day will come when it is least expected. We will not be able to see it coming, nor will we be able to stop it. So, cease all of this worry about “saving the planet” from disaster! The ultimate disaster is will be delivered by God; and it is completely unavoidable!
None of this is meant to say that you cannot be “environmentally conscious” if you so choose. Nor is it meant to say that you cannot be in favor of denuclearization of the world. It is only meant to say that the threat posed by such things is nothing compared to the threat posed by being unprepared to face an angry God in the day of judgment. Are you ready for that day to come?
--Lanny Smith
- The_Sky_is_Falling.pdf (87.48 kB)
