It is said, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’ Let him repay the man himself, so that he will know it! Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what does he care about the family he leaves behind when his allotted months come to an end?

Job 21:22-26

            You may have seen the ad on TV where the man stands on a railroad track with a train coming.  He says, “Global warming will not come for at least thirty years.  I won’t be here so why worry?”  As the man steps out of the way of the train standing behind him is a girl of about twelve or so.

            Frankly I think that was a powerful message.  We are all guilty of using our automobiles, although when it all started we didn’t know about the consequences.  We drag our feet today and do not yell at our leaders to find a cleaner way to drive, heat our homes and supply power.  We didn’t know thirty years ago but we do now.  I have three kids and they all have kids.  What kind of life are we leaving for them? 

            There are those who say this on simply the Earth doing her thing which she does every couple of million years but there are even more who say, although this may be a cycle it is being accelerated by our own desires for comfort. 

            In Job he says, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons.’  You might wonder what made the writer think he had a right to question God.  If that is your argument then apply this to yourself.  What gives us the right to question God? 

            More importantly, we are saying in America today, “God, stay out of our way and we won’t bother you.”  God steps aside easily.  He will not force us into salvation.  That would be nothing more than a form of slavery.  What he will do is allow us to keep hurting ourselves until we wise up and say, ‘enough is enough!’ and start changing our lives.

            Our physical bodies will grow old and die but our spirits will not.  Job directed a complaint to God.  He asked, ‘why do the wicked live on growing old and increasing in power?  They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.  Their homes are safe and free from fear;’

            It goes on look it up: job 21:4-18.

            The truth about this statement now is the very rich have more to lose than ever before and if the world comes plummeting down around them their money will not be enough to buy their way out of the mess that will be left.

            It is time for all men to work together.  It is a time when only through cooperation and the true respect that our planet is asking for can any of us hope for anything for our children and theirs.

            After all, I won’t be around to see it?  Does that give you comfort.  If so, I pray for you most of all.

            Let us all pray.