Creation Groaning

A little graph in the latest issue of World Vision News happened to catch my eye this morning.  The graph shows the number of economically damaging natural disasters that have occurred over the past 30 years (see http://www.emdat.be/natural-disasters-trends for the some of the research that the graph was based on).  It turns out that the number of major natural disasters has risen dramatically in the past 10 years (116 reported in the 1980s, 231 in the 1990s and 385 in the 2000s). 

I’m sure that there are a number of factors contributing to this increase in reported floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other disasters.  Perhaps a rapidly expanding world population has pushed people into areas more prone to natural disaster.  Perhaps advances in communications and technology have made reporting and assessing disasters easier and more likely to happen.  Or . . .

 Maybe this is exactly what the Bible says will happen in the days preceding Christ’s return and rule on earth.  Didn’t Jesus say that prior to His return, there would be “great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11)?  Didn’t Paul remind us that “the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22)?  Is it possible that the contractions are increasing in frequency because the birth is near?  Is it possible that the dominos are actually falling faster, that the intensity with which the world waits is building, and that the return of Jesus is immanent?   

I don’t care to speculate on the details of prophecy, filling in names and dates that the Bible does not clearly reveal.  I don’t know when Jesus will come back—plenty of people have attempted to guess and been proved wrong.  I do believe this, however—that history and creation seem to be barreling speedily toward their culmination and redemption.  There is a tangible sense of urgency that is mounting.  Jesus is coming--whether tomorrow or in a thousand years—He is coming.

 For me this thought is a reminder to stand up straight and keep my head lifted up, because my “redemption is near” (Luke 21:28).  For others I hope this is a reminder that “the Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (I Peter 3:9).  Time may be short (and growing shorter by the minute), but the Lord has extended His mercy thus far so that you will have the opportunity to turn to Him.  I pray that when the Day of the Lord comes, you would find yourself standing in the only safe place in the universe—in Jesus Christ.