God's Creation Groans

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Facing Global Issues

Should Christians be concerned with “global issues” today?

Global issues include

population explosion

pollution

food supply

global warming and climate change

what do these things mean for us?

Main Points

The World’s Problems

Population Explosion

Current world population = 7.6 billion

Number of humans that have ever lived - 108 billion (2017)

Number of humans that died in the Flood

one estimate - 10 trillion

my estimate - 10-50 billion

Top 10 countries by population

China = 1.4 billion

India = 1.35 billion

United States = 326 million

Indonesia = 266 million

Brazil = 210 million

Pakistan = 200 million

Nigeria = 196 million

Bangladesh = 166 million

Russia = 144 million

Mexico = 131 million

(Philippines is 13th = 106.5 million)

Top 10 cities by population

Food Production

See videos -

https://youtu.be/krU01hlCdxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4PufprISi4

795 million - go hungry everyday

2 billion - lack proper nutrition

Note: the problem lies with the rich, not with the poor

Majority of food produced go to the rich countries who can afford

33% of food produced either get lost or wasted

rich people eat more meat; more meat more grain to produce and more water consumed

more meat more grain to produce and more water consumed

1 KG or beef = 16,000 litres of water

Global Warming

See video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4H1N_yXBiA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtW2rrLHs08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0K9sD0vGus

Effects on Food Production

Reduced yields. The productivity of crops and livestock, including milk yields, may decline because of high temperatures and drought-related stress.

Increased irrigation. Regions of the world that now depend on rain-fed agriculture may require irrigation, bringing higher costs and conflict over access to water.

Planting and harvesting changes. Shifting seasonal rainfall patterns and more severe precipitation events—and related flooding—may delay planting and harvesting.

Decreased arability. Prime growing temperatures may shift to higher latitudes, where soil and nutrients may not be as suitable for producing crops, leaving lower-latitude areas less productive.

More pests. Insect and plant pests may survive or even reproduce more often each year if cold winters no longer keep them in check. New pests may also invade each region as temperature and humidity conditions change. Lower-latitude pests may move to higher latitudes, for example.

Risks to fisheries. Shifts in the abundance and types of fish and other seafood may hurt commercial fisheries, while warmer waters may pose threats to human consumption, such as increasing the risk of infectious diseases. Extreme ocean temperatures and ocean acidification place coral reefs-—the foundations of many of the world's fisheries-—at risk.

Pollution

See video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y6cvg_-6Lo

Effects of Pollution

Air pollution - smogs in major cities;

Water pollution - plastics in the ocean;

water pollution -

Crude Oil Consumption

World - 34 billion barrels per year

Top 10 countries - 20.8 billion barrels per year

1.688 trillion barrels in reserve

53 years to last

The earth is groaning in pain

God subjected creation to futility

Romans 8:20 NASB95

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

Romans 8.

God cursed the ground for Adam

Genesis 3:17–18 NASB95

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;

Genesis 3:18 NASB95

“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;

Romans 3.17-18

Noah’s generation felt the curse in their time

man became dependent on the earth for survival - this is abuse

man learned exploited the earth’s resources to satisfy not only his needs, but also his sinful imagination

Noah’s generation felt the curse in their time

Genesis 5:28–29 NASB95

Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed.”

Genesis 5.2

God placed the future of the earth in the hands of fallen man, knowing what will happen to his creation.

man became dependent on the earth for survival - this is abuse

food

shelter

clothing

man exploited the earth’s resources to satisfy not only his needs, but also his sinful imagination

Ecclesiastes 7:29 NASB95

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

devices - in KJV, inventions

wooden tools

iron tools

precious minerals and stones

As it was in the days of Noah

Genesis 6.13

Noah’s generation destroyed the earth

Genesis 6:11–13 NASB95

Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 6.11-13

Genesis 6:13 NASB95

Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

“filled with violence” - as human population grew, killing of animals and fellow humans multiplied

“it was corrupt” - morally, socially, economically, even religiously

“all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth”

Note some fascinating things about Noah’s generation:

human size - humans were probably taller and bigger than today’s average

humans bones and footprints were unearthed dating to that time

most animals were probably bigger also

families were large (in number)

Note: how many humans lived at that time?

It was said that Adam and Eve had 33 sons and 23 daughters! (Josephus)

Imagine if every family had at least 20 sons and daughters

the human population was huge!

In 10 generations (Adam to Noah) the population had probably grown to a staggering 100 billion or more!

no human government

nations and systems of government began to exist after the Flood

Noah’s generation probably abused and misused the earth to destruction

animals were killed for food (?) and sport

men and women murdered each other for every reason

lands were cleared to produce food

Romans 8:22 NASB95

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Romans 8.22

God will judge those who destroy the earth

Revelation 11:18 NASB95

“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

How the present earth is being destroyed

Exploitation of natural resources

for food production - actually, for the economic gain of the capitalists!

for sport and leisure - many animals have become extinct

extraction of minerals for to support man’s creativity

human activities that destroys the balance of nature

rising water levels

hole in the ozone layer

plastic garbage in the ocean

radioactive inventions

Exploitation of human resources

degradation of human honor

murder and destruction of innocents

holocaust

abortion

ethnic cleansing

Perversion of natural design

homosexuality

Romans 1:25–28 NASB95

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

Isaiah 5:18–23 NASB95

Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes; Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near And come to pass, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

Isaiah 5.18-23

God will put an end to man’s destructive habit

Because He created the earth to be inhabited

Isaiah 45:18 NASB95

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the Lord, and there is none else.

Revelation 11:18 NASB95

Creation’s Hope

Romans 8:20–21 NASB95

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8.20-21

They will be set free with the children of God!

Creation’s “earnest expectation” is to see the sons of God “manifested”

With the manifestation of the sons of God will come creation’s liberty as well!

Note

Not when Christ appears in glory, we will also appear with Him!

when Christ appears in glory, we will also appear with Him!

when we appear in glory with Christ, the whole creation will be set free from corruption - IN THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!

Their groans and suffering “death pains” but “birth pains”!

Romans 8:22 NASB95

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Romans 8.22

They are NOT groaning in hopeless suffering due to the destruction.

They are groaning in hope - earnestly awaiting the arrival of a better time and a better condition at the manifestation of the children of God!

Conclusion

As God’s children in the last days, we should become aware of the present condition of God’s creation

The present condition of the earth means judgment is coming very soon!

As God’s children in the last days, we should be groaning within ourselves also!

Romans 8:23 NASB95

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8.23

As creation groans for her future and glorious condition, so we await our glorious body with Christ!