Save the Earth?

Today is Earth Day. According to Wikipedia, “Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.” I agree men and women should be good stewards of this planet. After all, the first two people on this earth were assigned to take care of the Garden of Eden.

Unfortunately, green activism has grown to ridiculous levels. While staying in hotel rooms, I’ve noticed signs encouraging guests to conserve vital resources such as water. By doing so we can supposedly “save our planet.” 

The Bible repeatedly reminds us God made the earth. He made sure it has plenty of natural resources. Psalm 65:9 says, “You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.” It also says in Ecclesiastes 1:4, “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.” The earth is not in danger of dying. Yet, there are so-called experts claiming global warming is killing the Great Barrier Reef, melting polar ice caps, and causing other calamities. 

Last weekend, the Twin Cities area in Minnesota received over a foot of snow…in mid-April! For many days we experienced below normal temperatures. You’d think weather like that would dispel beliefs in a global warming gospel. Instead, some environmentalists now call it “climate change.” l believe in climate change. That’s been happening since creation.

Environmentalists should be more concerned with men being saved from eternal damnation. Colossians 3:2 commands, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” One time I witnessed to a Greenpeace activist who wouldn't receive a tract because he wanted to “save the trees.” Nikos still heard the gospel from me and prayed to get saved. After finding out he didn't have a Bible, I offered him one. Nikos willingly received the Bible, which used far more paper than the gospel tract.

When the Lord returns, He Himself will purify this planet from any harmful effects caused by man. 2 Peter 3:10 says, “...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.” Following the millennial reign of Christ and Judgment Day, Revelation 21:1 says there will be “...a new heaven and a new earth.” 

If your life ended right now, would you be ready to face “the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth”? (Isaiah 40:28) He won’t ask if you had saved trees, oceans, whales or other endangered species but if your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. From an eternal perspective, your soul is the most important thing worth saving.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” - Isaiah 65:17

O Christmas Tree…Oh No?

With the holiday season approaching, many businesses and individuals have already put up decorations. Among them are Christmas trees. A popular carol “O Christmas Tree” originated from Germany as “O Tannenbaum”, which translates as “O Fir Tree.” The original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas. Nevertheless, I remember singing the German version a time or two while in grade school.

Like other holiday traditions, some Christians oppose the usage of Christmas trees. One of my Facebook friends made a judgmental comment that people putting up Christmas trees “are worshiping the devil and have a mental disease.” Before giving my life to Christ, I didn’t have a Christmas tree in my apartment because of the time and expense involved. Instead, I drove up to Mom and Dad’s house for the holidays and enjoyed looking at their decorations. Nowadays, I still don’t own a Christmas tree mainly due to my missionary lifestyle.

Once I heard evangelist Jesse Duplantis talk about the time he bought and gift-wrapped a Christmas present for Jesus (“Why not? It's His birthday!”). Jesse then placed the present underneath his Christmas tree. The spirit of God bugged Jesse to tell Him in advance what His present was! This story serves as a reminder the Lord is not as stuffy as we sometimes perceive Him to be. God wants us to have fun and enjoy life as long as He is numero uno (Matthew 6:33).

Why make a big fuss over Christmas trees? I’ve never seen anyone bow down and worship one. In fact, most trees are decorated with a star on top to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Rather than protesting traditions with supposedly pagan origins, how about promoting the Reason for the Season…the One who eventually died on a tree for us?

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths” - Colossians 2:16

The Fig Tree

One sign often cited by Bible prophecy teachers that we are living in the last days is Israel becoming a nation again. This is interpreted through Jesus’ Parable of the Fig Tree in Matthew 24 (also mentioned in the gospels of Mark and Luke)…

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 

33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 

34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away

People have differences regarding how long a generation is in Scripture. Some have defined that as 40 years, 70 years, or 100 years. One fellow prophecy buff suggested it could last as long as the man’s lifespan during a particular time period.

Other Old Testament passages associated God’s people to fig trees…

“And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” - 1 Kings 4:25

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans.” - Jeremiah 24:5

“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.” - Hosea 9:10

“For a nation has come up against My land, strong, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine, and ruined My fig tree; He has stripped it bare and thrown it away; Its branches are made white.” - Joel 1:6-7

Another passage in Matthew 21 mentions a fig tree that Jesus cursed…

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

The main lesson we can learn from the withered fig tree is that our words have power in the spiritual realm. It can also be pointed out if our lives aren’t fruitful, it will eventually be exposed. Fig trees are unique in that they normally produce fruit before the leaves appear. It’s interesting that Adam and Eve tried using fig leaves to cover up their nakedness after eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:7). In other Bible verses, figs symbolize prosperity, wellbeing, and security.

What fruit are you bearing for the Lord? One of them should be a supportive attitude towards the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.’” - Psalm 122:6-7

Standing on the Wrong Rock

Despite living in Minnesota most of my life, I consider myself a North Dakota native having been born in Fargo. A recent oil boom has caused a marked increase of the Roughrider State’s population. It’s also resulted in a protest that has captured the world’s attention. The issue at hand is the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline that would run from the Bakken oil fields in western North Dakota to southern Illinois, crossing beneath the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, as well as part of Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. 

Many people including a few celebrities are “standing with Standing Rock” by blocking construction of the pipeline. One reason is to protect the water from a possible oil spill (the phrase “water is life” is often used by protesters). What should be pointed out is another pipeline and other utilities have been previously built underneath the Missouri River. The chairman of the Standing Rock Tribal Council happens to own a gas station.

Another reason given for the protests is the pipeline supposedly affecting Native American sites. U. S. Army Corp officials offered to hold hearings that were largely ignored by the Standing Rock tribe. Still the pipeline is to be constructed miles away from their sacred grounds. 

Protesters misrepresenting other facts have added fuel to the fire. Despite claims of peaceful protests, law enforcement officials have been attacked with rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails. One person taunted policemen by holding a dead pig’s head on a stick. On Black Friday about 100 Standing Rock protesters gathered at a shopping mall in North Dakota’s capital city of Bismarck. At least 33 of them were arrested for trespassing after disregarding repeated orders to disperse and stop blocking an entrance.

Nevertheless, some religious groups (and even a few of my Facebook friends) have sided with the protesters. The outreach director of one organization posted a YouTube video from Standing Rock in which he talked about “saving Mother Earth.” I must remind eco-protesters the earth isn’t our mother! It’s simply the planet we live on.

This conflict will hopefully end soon since an eviction notice has been issued to protesters camping illegally on private property. In the meantime, I advise all professing Christians “standing with Standing Rock” to refocus your priorities by standing with “the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). Believers should be more concerned about saving the souls of men by telling them about Chief Cornerstone who’s part of the tribe of Judah. Protesting a pipeline doesn’t get people into heaven.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” - Matthew 7:24

Memorials Unto God

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a federal holiday honoring Americans who died while in active military service. Some people confuse Memorial Day with Veteran’s Day (observed annually on November 11th) that honors everyone who spent time in the Armed Forces. As a former National Guardsman myself, I go out of my way to thank fellow veterans who served our country. This also opens up doors to share the gospel with them.

Memorials are mentioned throughout Scripture to honor God, His people, and to commemorate things He’s done for us. Here are a few examples…

“So this day [the Passover] shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” - Exodus 12:14

“And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.” - Exodus 28:12

“Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” - Joshua 4:7

In Matthew 26, a woman poured a flask of costly oil upon Jesus’ head. In response to His disciples’ indignation of that, Jesus said in verse 13, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Acts 10 honors a Roman Gentile who eventually got saved. Through an angelic vision, Cornelius was told in verse 4, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.”

Some churches (particularly older ones) have allowed financing of communion tables, hymnals, pews, pianos, rooms, and stained glass windows in memory of deceased congregation members. Problems can develop if someone buys “naming rights” like what’s done nowadays with sports venues. Family members have used this to control a pastor’s decisions.

On the other hand, Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia has a couple buildings on the property named after past ministry leaders including the Rev. Wallace H. Heflin Sr. Memorial Tabernacle. Living Word Christian Center had a prayer room in their previous location named after a late intercessor who played a major role in that church’s formation. Another church I sometimes visit in Minnesota is Josiah Center. The Holy Spirit led the pastor to start a church with that name after his 22-month-old son Josiah died in a tragic accident.

It’s been said rear view mirrors are smaller than windshields because where we are going is more important than where we have been. A church having many memorials could become a religious museum with idols diverting attention from reaching the lost. Ultimately all memorials should glorify the name above all names.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” - Psalm 20:7

Out on a Limb

English preacher John Scotland often says at his meetings, “For those of you taking notes…save the trees.” This is meant to be a humorous jab at people who jot down too many notes during church services. 

Sadly there are environmentalists who do ridiculous things like chain themselves to trees they don’t want chopped down. In this creepy YouTube clip, members of a radical advocacy group are hysterically bawling over dead trees…  

Tree huggers who really want to take their cause to the extreme shouldn’t read books, live in wooden houses with wooden furniture or use paper money, Kleenex and toilet paper. If God valued trees as much as humans, He wouldn’t have told Noah to built an ark out of gopher wood (Genesis 6:14) or instructed His people to use wood for various sacrifices.

God is certainly not worried about earthly shortages. One time I was driving through Yellowstone National Park and saw a mountain range with a huge amount of trees. At that moment, the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me of how He has supplied the earth with an abundance of natural resources.  

Yet some folks have this idea that trees are an endangered species. While in elementary school during the 1970s, I was taught a poem that went something like this…

Oh, can’t you plainly see?

That we are running out of trees?

Chop! That was the last one.

It was also around this time I watched an animated TV special called “The Lorax”, based on a Dr. Seuss book of the same name. The title character kept saying he “speaks for the trees.” A motion picture based on the book later came out in 2012. It was one of the top grossing movies of that year.

For any environmentalists reading this, please note that the Son of God died on a tree but not for a tree. When you stand before His throne, He won’t ask about how many trees you saved but if you yourself are saved.

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.” - Acts 14:15