Outdoor Truths

Gary Miller


Outdoor Truths

This has been one of the warmest winters I can remember. Even though there have been a few cold weeks, for the most part it is as predicted - above normal. Last week and this week have temperature prediction highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's. What is normally a dead time for human activity has become an almost springtime event. Not only is it affecting the human world, but all creatures and creation are going about things differently because of the unseasonably warm weather. In my area the lakes and rivers are already producing crappie and walleye. Fishermen are having success in early January that is usually not had until February. I've even seen areas of plants that are showing the 'green' of spring.

Even though this years' warmth is attributed to La NiƱa, we are told the last three years have been the warmest three consecutive years for our planet. While many of us have been skeptical about climate change, it looks like it could be true. How much mankind is attributing to it, is still very debatable. The problem is, when change comes so very slow - almost negligible, it is hard to both notice it and want to do something about it. The warnings have been coming for so long and the change has been so small, it's hard to believe it is going to happen. So, we just keep on going our own way and doing our own thing. We'll be fine if it's not happening. If it is, we may wait until it's too late to do anything about it.

For centuries now, pastors, preachers, laypeople, and theologians have been warning us of the day that Jesus will return. Much like the skepticism of climate change, many people ignore these warnings and continue as if things will go on as it is forever. It seems to them since the warnings have been coming for so long and the change has been so slight, there is no need to think the future will be any dissimilar. What is different about this scenario is this. One writer of the Bible (Peter) predicted this denial! He said, "I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." (2Pet 3:3-4 NLT) See it? They too believed what was predicted about Jesus' return would never happen. And many people still do. Let me give you another one. Do you believe Jesus will return this next year? Do you believe He will return in the next month or week? What about the next hour? Do you believe He will return in the next hour? No one does!

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." ~ Jesus (Matt 24:44 NIV)

Gary Miller

Outdoor Truths Ministries

www.outdoortruths.org