When Al Gore talks about global ecology and the environment he reminds me of the pessimist who, "when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both."  (Oscar Wilde)

I wonder how big the catastrophe has to be before it tops the doomsday predictions of today's global warming extremists.  To listen to some, our planet is on a fast track to disaster.  That may be, but the Al Gore groupies are mistaken on two accounts. 

First, the most cataclysmic environmental of disasters, far beyond today's dire global warming scenarios, is old news.  It happened five thousand years ago at the time of Noah and the ark.  That world-wise deluge was an environmental calamity far beyond even the scale of Al Gore's doomsday prognostications. 

Yet, the earth survived.  It survived ecological forces far beyond any measure or human control.

This is where today's greenies and tree-huggers err a second time.  News flash!  The future of the earth is not, I repeat, not in our control.  Our salvation is not in recycling, regulation, or reforestation.  Our goodness is not in saving whales, protecting wetlands, or legislating climate control.

The scope of this world's problem is infinitely worse than Woody Harrelson's fear of tsunamis, Leonardo DiCaprio's angst over carbon footprints, or Bono's hostility to fossil fuels.  

Human wickedness caused the Flood, not urban development, traffic, or greenhouse gases.  Sin occasioned the Flood.  Immorality and godlessness make up the primary pollution of this planet. 

For this very reason there is no remedy in man.  All the protesting, petitions, or politicking about "going green" won't change one iota the fundamental crisis of our planet, the problem of sin and its consequent death.  Don't mistake this as a denial of the beauty of nature or indifference to a responsible stewardship of land and sea.

It is just that so many people obscure the essential predicament through hysteria over comparative trifles. 

What most people don't realize is that the ecological disaster of the Flood was actually a superlative blessing from God.  God used water both to drown and to lift up.  God was saving the planet through the Flood.  This extraordinarily great torrent of water was God's instrument for merciful deliverance.  By it God delivered judgment upon sin and grace to poor Noah and his family who would have no defense again the Deluge were it not for the safety of the ark.

The Flood is a picture of our Baptism where again God used water.  To this water He added His Word of promise.  In Holy Baptism there is drowning and rising.  There is death to sin and life through the Holy Spirit.  There is in Baptism the sublime optimism by which Christians, presented with two blessings, receive both.  In baptism sin is engulfed and the righteousness of Christ is bestowed as God receives us poor sinners into the ark of the church.

There is one source of hope for this planet of ours.  It is God's world-wide solution by water and the Word.  It is the water of baptism which covers the earth.  In it is power to cleanse all mankind and the promise of a new world where all is fresh and wholesome, clean and  truly green.

By the way...

I was thinking of some of the spiritual lessons contained in the episode of the deluge.  I wonder if you can think of others.

"There is no man who does not sin."  (1 Kings 8:46)

"He who pursues evil pursues it to his own death." (Proverbs 11:19)

"The fool has said in his heart, There is no God."  (Psalm 14:1a)

"(God) knows what is in man." (John 2:25)

"Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away." (Luke 21:33)

"You do not know what hour your Lord comes ... be ready." (Matt. 24:42, 44)

"I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." (Exodus 33:19a)

"Your Father knows what things you need before you ask Him."  (Matt. 6:8b)

"Cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"The Lord ... forsakes not his saints." (Psalm 37:28)