hot mess

They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:9

Humanity, bent on sinful autonomy and hatred of God, will never accept that God will use His sovereign control over the natural world to judge us. Time and again in the “bowl” judgments of the book of Revelation, God brings natural disaster to the earth. First there was a universal skin disease causing boils and excruciating pain. Then the seas turned to blood and all marine life is made extinct. Then the same thing happens in fresh water. This is followed by an atmospheric solar discharge that scorches the whole planet. Survivors among the fires just keep cursing God. They will not even entertain that He has power to unleash these disasters. Humanity is naturally resistant to humble repentance.

I’m no prophet of doom, but I do know that I am living in increasingly more difficult days. After nearly six decades on this earth, our world is a different place than it was in my youth. I do not doubt that. Society has been on a downhill run against God’s rule for several generations now. And I am not at all surprised that our smug confidence in “human achievement” has only worsened the world. At this point humans are poisoning the planet, killing each other with malice in record numbers, suffering a disease pandemic on a worldwide scale that shows no sign of ending, and coping with regular ecological challenges and disasters. It’s a sin-ravaged world out there, and we are to blame! I am certain we aren’t even in book of Revelation territory yet! But it sure feels close to getting there.

So I am not shocked it is as bad as it is. This is what I expect when humans defy their Creator. I will commit to doubling down on the comfort and call of the gospel to repent, believe, and live in Jesus with a firm future hope that is much better than the hot mess that our world is right now!