Welcome to the December 18th edition of Bible in the News. This is Glenn Abel with you.

The news has been dominated lately with non-stop coverage of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Billed as "the crucial conference", the goal of the conference is to reach an "ambitious global agreement" for reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which includes "all the countries of the world." The "crucial" element in this conference is the claim that solutions must be implemented immediately or the world risks catastrophic results including, perhaps, a new ice age.

Is it possible that man can come up with a solution? The prophet Jeremiah succinctly stated in the 10th chapter:
"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23) Yet, it seems as though everywhere we go, we are bombarded with environmental propaganda. That man can solve the earth’s problems, and that those who don’t embrace the environmental message are "sinners" for not doing their part for the planet.

We have been following the rise of this new "morality" for a number of years now, made famous by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore when he said: "The political systems around the world have held this at arm’s length because it’s an inconvenient truth, because they don’t want to accept that it’s a moral imperative."

It is ironic that some of the researchers who have informed us about the problem of climate change, and global warming, and introduced us to their new "morality", seem to have left the true morality behind. Here is a quote from a famous Climatologist at Stanford:

"To capture the public imagination, we have to offer up some scary scenarios, make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have. Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective, and being honest." - Stephen Schneider Ph.D. Climatologist, Stanford University.

This type of dishonest science has been behind the almost universal acceptance of the theory of Evolution, in the absence of any solid proof. Proverbs 8:7 shows us that for Bible students, there is only one way to conduct our affairs: "For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips." This is the kind of morality expected by the God who created heaven and earth.

To be fair, Dr. Schneider is not alone in his approach. At the end of November, it was revealed that Dr. Phil Jones, one of the main players in climatic research, has been colluding with others to "cook the books" on global warming research and data.

Apparently, someone hacked into the university computer systems, stole Dr. Phil’s email history, and posted online details of damaging email correspondence. In some of the e-mails, he discussed using statistical "tricks" to mask apparent declines in global temperatures. Others outlined a scheme to boycott publications that accepts research papers which contradict the theory of global warming.

With the Copenhagen conference about to begin, scientists, environmentalists, and politicians furiously circled the wagons, and went into overdrive to try and minimize the damage caused by the revelations of the so-called "Climategate" affair. Their main motivation was to ensure their "agenda" of "Sealing the deal" - in other words, pushing it through at all costs, did not get sidetracked at the conference.

As the various groups express their beliefs and opinions on how to "save the earth", they rest on a shaky assumption... that man is in control.

Bible students know that the opposite is in fact, the case - as we read in Psalm 95:4-6; speaking of the LORD:

Israel of old discovered this fact time and again - that God is always in control. For example, in Amos 4:7, we read:

Did God want the Israelites to reduce their carbon footprint? Did He want herd reductions to limit methane gases? No. He wanted Israel to return to Him, and obey Him.

To be sure, God does not wish for men and women to desecrate and pollute His natural creation any more than He takes pleasure in the death of the disobedient. But He has specified the solution, and it is His solution, not up for discussion, negotiation, or compromise.

The return of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, will cure all that ails this world which is subject to sin, disease, and death. He will to restore again the Kingdom of Israel, and usher an age of righteousness upon the earth.

The justice and equity that man seeks will be administered by the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we read in Isaiah 11:3-4: "... and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."

and, Isaiah 61:11: "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

That which man has desolated will be repaired, beginning in Zion, as we read in Isaiah 61:4: "And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations."

It seems that every one wishes to "rise to the occasion", and "answer their calling", to "be a force for change", to "do their part" to save the planet from disaster. It is easy to get caught up in these sentiments.

As servants of God, however, we must not waver from the holy scriptures, and from the calling to which we have been called, and the great and precious promises that we have been entrusted with. The great calling of our lives is not to save the earth, but to save men and women from their eternal death by introducing them to the Hope of Israel. As our Lord said in Luke 9:60: "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."

If we want to be zealous, and "make a stand", let us stand for that! Following the example of the Apostle Paul, who stated in 1 Corinthians 9:16: "... woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel."

Let us conclude this week with the words of Isaiah 45:22, and endeavor to point men and women to the true solution to the earth’s problems:

Join us again next week, God willing, for another edition of Bible in the News.

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