It is impossible to ignore the increasing and catastrophic events happening to the earth these days. It's as if every category of weather has caused devastating damage and loss of life. Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, floods... the world has experienced them all. El Niño has ravaged Ecuador, as well as our homeland. Turkey and Syria saw earthquakes in 2023 that impacted an estimated 15.7 million people, with 2.5 million being children, who as refugees, faced increased risk of poverty, child labor, or child marriage in the aftermath of the disaster, (according to the YouTube site Insane Curiosity).
China has experienced massive floods; Morocco an earthquake; the Pacific Ring of Fire is currently very active with volcanoes and earthquakes; and our own nation suffered from winter storms across the eastern half of the country, tornado outbreaks, flooding across Hawaii, a record freeze in Florida, and the Winter Storm from hell that extended from Texas through the Northeast. Solar activity certainly seems to have increased in frequency, causing havoc with cyber technology and warnings of geomagnetic storms. As I write this, there is a disturbance threatening the Gulf, and while we could sure use the rain in our part of the country, I pray that the earth does not experience a disaster that is violent or full of fury.
I'm not an expert, by any means, on geology or the natural phenomena that I've mentioned. But I can't help but connect the dots to the Bible's correlation between God's creation and man's sin. Roman 8:22 tells us "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." There is actually a dynamic partnership between the [land of the] Earth and the covenant relationship between God and those [of men] who belong to Him.
In fact, the state of the earth is a reflection of humanity's sin. And the earth groans as it experiences the fallout and consequences of our failing to honor our God and just how much we need Him. Our disobedience and selfishness have resulted in a corrupted world, physically and spiritually. And it seems we have forgotten that God warns He will shake the earth when we begin to rely on the material aspects of this world more than on Him... Hebrews 12:26-27 tells us, but now He has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken -- that is, things that have been made -- in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
It's not difficult to see how the world is being shaken. Nations and their governments are in conflict. The wars and rumors of war that Jesus prophesied are happening around the world. The economies of the world are teetering. Civil war is threatened within our own borders. And the institutions we once trusted as the stable foundation of our nation, have proven to be dishonorable, corrupt, and immoral. God is shaking all the underpinnings of our mortal existence that we've put our trust in -- including governments, money, military, education, jobs, technology, and even our churches. He is shaking them to show us that everything we have built and relied on ourselves is temporary and can be shaken. He is trying to show us that "the things that cannot be shaken" will be everything that is built upon Jesus Christ, and it will be eternal.
We should not be surprised that the Earth is groaning. In order to understand why, we must recognize that the impact of sin on the land has been made clear from the beginning of Scripture, specifically in the Genesis account of the Fall. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden, and fell for Satan's lie that they could be "like God, knowing good and evil", the consequences of their sin extended far beyond themselves and their banishment from the presence of God. He actually tells them "Cursed is the ground because of you". Their sin not only disrupted the harmony of their relationship with God, but also the harmony of man's relationship with the earth.
We also see that the land is a vital element in the covenantal promises God made to the patriarchs. For instance, the Promised Land is a clear sign of God's blessing and faithfulness upon His chosen people [to whom He gives their purpose: to reveal Him to earth's inhabitants]. But the enjoyment and possession of the land is contingent upon Israel's obedience. The history of Israel throughout the Bible is a story of their faithfulness vs their disobedience, and the land who mourns due to the moral spiritual failings of its inhabitants. God frequently sent His prophets to warn the people regarding the impact their sin would have on the land, and cautioned them that the suffering land was a sign of His divine judgment.
And because our faith teaches us that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we must not be blind to the signs we are seeing on the earth today. I believe that the earthquakes, mudslides, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and volcanoes are depictions of the increasing groans of creation, as it struggles and suffers with labor pains, while longing for redemption and God's restoration. They are witnessing to us, letting mankind know that if we [and our leaders] don't turn from our own selfish motives and desire for power and wealth, that we can expect divine judgment from Heaven.
I don't know how anyone could ignore the violence we see in creation today. Do we think that the sulfur and fire that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah could never happen today? Yet, the nations continue to rage with their self-serving political polarization, division, hatred, slaughter, and self-worship. It's not enough to study prophecy and read the Word, if you're not seeking God's Presence and Intimacy with His Son. Information about Him is not the same as knowing Him. Recognizing the signs that the earth is groaning is not enough!
We must discern that God is shaking the earth to get our attention! He is inviting us to be present with Him. He is reminding us that this earth is our temporary home. The raging world must turn away from its sins, repent, and seek the Prince of Peace! We must not live in fear and trembling of the next shaking. Instead, we must act like God's people ... remain anchored in His Word; seek His Presence; serve the suffering; strengthen our families; disciple the next generation; and share the Gospel with the lost, with both compassion and conviction.
In summary, although we may see the earth groaning, the nations raging, and our foundations trembling, we have the confidence of our faith which proclaims the truth that we are on a journey to our eternal and lasting home ... God's Kingdom, which cannot be shaken. Let us stay focused on our Savior and be a reflection of Him to a fallen world. Let us reflect our hope in that eternal kingdom to a world that is overcome by fear. The darker the future gets, the brighter Christ's Light will shine in and through us. Let us show Creation that we are the true sons and daughters of God and their redemption and restoration are nigh!
Romans 8:19-21 For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay [and gain entrance] into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
