It Isn't Easy Being Green

The slogan “Go Green” has been around for quite a few years and our Muppet friend, Kermit the Frog, is incredibly proud. Going “Green” is so popular, hotels are even using it as a way to reduce their amenities. When conversations turn to environmental issues, it seems there is an urgency and fear associated with saving the planet.

Celebrities, campaign ads, commercials, newspapers, and magazines all call for us to step up and do our part. We must right the wrongs done to earth and it’s atmosphere or else life as we know it will disappear. We are enticed by hybrid car and home improvement tax breaks and our tax dollars fund government-sponsored ecosystem research.   Not that I am against being good stewards of God’s creation over which we were given dominion, but why such desperation?

Nevertheless, green politics are not new. Several years ago, Hollywood, coupled with the news media and government officials (what an unholy alliance) produced a prime-time TV program and broadcasted the signal into outer space. Their hope was that some benevolent alien planet would hear and come to our rescue. The telecast gave the “man on the street” a microphone and an opportunity to speak to the aliens. However, in almost every case, the communiqué was “if there is anyone out there, please come and help us.”

The anguish continues whether it’s a nuclear threat or rapidly depleting natural resources. Truly, the world is desperate and because they look to science and humanity for salvation, their “…hearts are failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…” (Luke 21:26 NKJV)

But, can weak, fallible humanity save humanity?

Somewhere inside, we hope someone greater than ourselves, like Superman, will swoop in and save us. Nevertheless, we humans are fickle. As long as the superhero works for us and not the other way around, we’re good.

We want salvation, but only on our terms and we want control.

We don’t mind giving control to someone else when times are tough, but we want the right to take it back when control turns into what we think is tyranny.

Because we want to be in control, humanity is unwilling to see that from the beginning Someone greater than ourselves is here. All we have to do is accept Him.

Israel, deciding God’s rule was tyrannical, demanded an earthly king. “The Lord said to Samuel, heed the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”(I Sam.8:7; Luke 19:14).

Human attitudes have not changed since the beginning.

We refuse to“…repent of the works of [our] hands…” and worship the one true and living God. Seems we would rather cry out “to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.’”(Rev.9:20; Rev. 6:16)

If we would repent, the bondage of the fear of death and impending doom would vanish with the peace and truth of God’s word.

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood [humanity] He Himself [Jesus] likewise partook of the same nature, that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage”(Heb.2:14-15 RSV)

My friend, cataclysm will come to this planet, but Jesus is the answer. “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.” (II Tim3:13; Luke 21:28 NKJV)