Posted August 30, 2007
Why on earth would God not want people here? An intriguing question, more intriguing frankly than trying to imagine A World Without Us—the title of a recent book. by science writer Alan Weisman.
Interviewed for the July 2007 issues of both US News & World Report and Scientific American, Weisman describes his book as a hypothetical, evolutionary history of what would happen to the planet if humans suddenly ceased to exist.
From his extensive research Weisman chronicles how quickly man's buildings, roads, subway systems—the evidence of man's achievements—would degrade and disappear under the forces of nature. The world's cities within several years would start to crumble from the combined effects of freeze-thaw cycles. Flooded subway systems would cause parts of cities to collapse. Wildlife of all sorts would take over urban and rural areas. Modern and ancient stone buildings and monuments would last longer than rusting steel superstructures.
What from man would last?
Weisman suggests that bronze sculptures might survive in their original shape for a few million years. That's about it.
Weighing the science author's thesis makes you think of the finger-in-the-water impression test for mankind. Take a glass of water and put your finger down in the liquid. Now remove your finger and see how much of a hole it made in the water. Barely a ripple and that soon disappears.
Carrying forward this worthy lesson of the human race with humility, let's skip the artificial, evolutionary thinking because it is in fact artificial. Let's go to the actual future of the world— with us in the picture. Let's turn to another book for the truth of why the world will not become an un-peopled planet.
Why on earth is man here? Why is man so much smarter than mastodons—or any other creature? Why do beavers build dams, yet never generate electricity for other beavers in their community—but man can? "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of a man which is in him …?" (1 Corinthians 2:11).
People are so far beyond animals because there is a non-physical or spirit essence in the human mind, placed there for a purpose by the power of the master Maker. That purpose is to facilitate more than just phenomenal human intellect. It is to connect with the divine—because "… no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11).
Earth, an un-peopled planet?
Hardly! Humans are the children of God by physical creation. But there's more, we may also become the immortal children of God by spiritual creation in the resurrection of the dead (John 6:40, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
Yet could humans depopulate the planet? Yes, with time, technology, weaponry and war such disastrous proportions are in our power. But this is not new news because Jesus Christ precisely forecast it about 2000 years ago, saying " … unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but … those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:22).
That last part is awfully good to hear, isn't it? Alan Weisman's premise in A World Without Us will not come to pass. The premise of God's book, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., is that God will insure that humanity does survive.
Here's a synopsis of Christ's future for the world:
Before His return, because of wrong human choices, we are headed for terrible times, evil actions and globe-girdling destruction—for troubles and wars like the world has never seen before. But the good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . is—at the highest point of that crisis—Jesus Himself with an army of actual angels (not the wispy, fluttering robe type) will literally return like lightning to earth, directly to a ridge called the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem.
Christ will then stop man's rebellious behavior with supernatural power.
Next He will set up the government of the Kingdom of God and from Jerusalem rule the remnants of all the nations on earth for a thousand years of peace, prosperity and spiritual enlightenment that leads to true, eternal salvation for those who have survived until the time of His Kingdom.
But what will happen to those who have died without repenting before Christ returns? Is there any hope for them?
Indeed there is! But that's a story that takes longer to tell. So let me offer you not only that fascinating story but also a more complete picture of how Jesus Christ will set up His Kingdom and what it will be like.
