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Global
Warming or Global Cooling
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Cherry
trees are in bloom, birds are singing, and the sun is shinning. It’s 70
degrees in New York City but it’s not Springtime. Oddly, these were the
conditions of the month of January, 2007. That month, record high temperatures
were broken in some of the United State’s coldest cities. Snow shovels
and winter coats were traded for short sleeves and suntan lotion. Then,
one week later, a huge snow storm blanketed the United States. Many died
and millions were without power.
Would-be President Al Gore claims global warming is to blame for the weird
weather and a looming climate crisis. Gore has said that the glaciers
in Antarctica are melting and that sea levels will rise to cover parts
of Florida and New Orleans. He has even asserted that the tide will rise
so high that the future World Trade Center memorial in New York will one
day be under water. "Is it only terrorists that we're worried about?
Is that the only threat that is worth our attention?" Gore said.
"We are witnessing a collision between our civilization and the Earth.
Global Warming seems dangerous. Yet, Global Cooling is a much larger threat
to the world. Global Cooling? What? You have never heard of Global Cooling?
While Global Warming is predicted by scientists, Global Cooling is prophesied
in the Bible. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall
wax cold,” Matthew 24:12. While temperatures are on the rise, the heart
of man is beginning to freeze. From road rage to impurity and strife,
people are acting on their impulses and placing another layer of ice upon
their cold heart. Sure, we sing about love from a tune on the radio. But
no one really loves their neighbor anymore. This is Global Cooling and
it is triggered by the smog of what the King James Version calls “iniquity.”
The New King James Version and the New American Standard use the word
“lawlessness” to describe the cause of the cooling. Iniquity is law-less-ness.
“And because law-less-ness increases in the world, the love of many will
grow cold,” Matthew 24:12. The Greek word translated “lawlessness” in
this verse is “anomia.” This word, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Dictionary,
means “illegality, i.e. violation of law, wickedness, iniquity, unrighteousness.”
Likewise, Thayer's Greek lexicon defines anomia as “the condition of one
without law — either because ignorant of it, or because violating it,
contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness.” It’s a pretty tough
word. Anomia is exactly the same Greek term used in Matthew 7:23 where
the Savior said, "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew
you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (anomia)." Ouch!
From these definitions we see the danger of iniquity. Iniquity separates
man from the Almighty. The wages of sin is death. Numbers 15:31, “Because
he hath despised the word of YHWH, and hath broken his commandment, that
soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity [shall be] upon him.” Iniquity
is law-less-ness or having no regard towards the law of YHWH. (YHWH is
the ancient Hebrew name of the Creator, revealed in Exodus 3. This term
is used almost 7,000 times throughout the Bible, hidden behind the capitalized
terms “LORD” and “GOD.”)
Iniquity is dangerous because it cools the heart and separates man from
YHWH. This is in agreement with 1 John 3:4, “Everyone who practices sin
also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” To sin is to violate
or break the law of YHWH, called “torah” in Hebrew. This law is the commandments
that were given to Moses and then recorded in the first five books of
the Bible. The Torah reveals the instructions and expectations for how
believers are to live. A person sins when the law is not kept. Sin is
having lawlessness – having less of the law. Don’t look at the word “law”
and think of a harsh judgment that is ruling to hinder your life. Instead,
consider the Torah of YHWH to be loving guidelines for how mankind is
function in this world.
Lawlessness is a chill factor that cools the heart and leads to eternal
separation from the Almighty. Yet, how many sermons have you heard about
this subject? How many articles have you read about the love of many waxing
cold like a snuffed out candle? Sadly, this concept has been ignored.
This is the danger of iniquity. Like slow changes in the weather that
go unnoticed, iniquity is slowly growing in all parts of the world. Even
Bible believers are growing cold in their love because of a disdain for
the Torah. Like super-market shoppers, we pick and choose what in the
Bible we should follow. We are all guilty. Issues of gluttony, slander,
rebellion against leadership, tithing, and personal purity are ignored
by many.
The opposite of law-less-ness is law-plus-ness, or having more of the
Torah in your life. The opposite of having a cold heart is having a heart
ablaze. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart, for out of it flows the
issues of life.” If the heart’s love for others is chilly towards ANYONE
then iniquity is to blame. Is there someone you despise? Do you love your
enemies? Have you shown love to family members who have caused you pain
in the past? What about those people, who have spoken lies about you,
do you love them?
Global cooling abounds, yet hope is expressed in Genesis 8:22, “While
the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer
and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” The promise of this verse
is that cold AND heat shall not cease. Though the world grows cold all
around, heat will always remain. Though iniquity increases in the world,
believers have been called to not be affected by the chill factor. We
are to be a source of heat for the frozen people all around.
The key to being on fire for YHWH is to seek him daily. Devote 30 minutes
every morning to prayer and Bible study and see your life change. Feel
your frozen heart melt by His love. Make a commitment to seek His face.
“They entered into a covenant to seek YHWH, the YHWH of their ancestors,
with all their heart and soul,” 2 Chronicles 15:12. Use a notebook to
journal your 30 minutes of time with YHWH.
Continue to search your heart for an ice chest of areas that don’t conform
to His word. When those areas are exposed, confess your sin to YHWH. The
reason some of your prayers have not been answered is because of a lack
of obedience and submission to Torah. “If I regard iniquity in my heart,
YHWH will not hear my prayers,” Psalm 66:18. Repent and return to Him.
Psalm 38:18 - "For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry
for my sin." Your prayers will begin to be answered as YHWH cleanses
your heart of cold iniquity.
Trust the Savior to cleanse your heart of all torah-less-ness. Get torah-more-ness
by looking to the Messiah. The Savior’s life is an example for all. We
are to “follow his steps,” 1 Peter 2:21. He rose early in the morning
to pray, He went to synagogue and read from the Torah, He laid hands on
the sick, and He loved his enemies. He walked out the Torah with absolutely
NO iniquity in his heart.
Some
scientists say that it’s too late to stop the effects of Global Warming.
They claim an environmental apocalypse is inevitable and soon. Global
Cooling too can not be reversed. Iniquity is increasing in the world and
the love of many is getting colder and colder. BUT, Global Cooling should
have NO power over the believer. Through prayer, repentance, devotion,
and trusting in YHWH we can stay ablaze amidst a snow storm of sin. Though
people become popsicles all around, we can stay warm for YHWH. Frostbite
of the heart is stopped by totally trusting in YHWH and His Son. For He
has taken our iniquity upon Himself and paid the price for our sins. “He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging
we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned
to his own way; YHWH has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him,”
Isaiah 53:5-6
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