The following year, we walked on the moon. You
probably remember the moment we heard the words one giant leap for mankind.
We witnessed a miracle. Glued to our televisions we solemnly surveyed earth
from 250,000 miles away. I was reminded of this on a recent flight across
the Atlantic. Looking down from above the clouds I realised that we had
actually been watching ourselves watching ourselves (the world's first
selfie)!
In 1969 there were only half the people in the
world as there are now. Since then, the population has more than doubled,
now standing at 7.7 billion. 1.5 billion people do not have enough food. A
further 900 million do not have access to clean drinking water. One-third of
the population lives on less than $2 a day. Another third is obese – not, as
one would think, those in the richest and most developed countries.
Fifty years ago, there were only three mega-cities
(ten million or more people) in the world. Today there are thirty. For
various reasons, humans move around. 147,700 immigrants came to Canada in
1969. This year, 330,000 are expected. While the USA may be home to the
world's largest immigrant population, immigrants account for only 14% of the
total population, a far smaller share than in many other developed nations.
Another change in the last 50 years is that our
planet's temperature is rising. We generally believe that is due to the
increase in carbon dioxide and pollution. The Arctic is warming faster than
anywhere else. Ice reflects the sun's rays and keeps the earth cool. When
glaciers melt, the ice below the surface heaves up and creates a giant tidal
wave releasing ice into the ocean. Our sea levels are rising twice as fast
as they did ten years ago.
For many generations nature was prolific and taken
for granted, but in the last 50 years our wildlife population has declined
by 50%. However, rainforests still teem with wildlife. There is such
diversity that the species in tropical forests have not yet been catalogued.
Unintentionally, or carelessly, the human
population is influencing the planet, causing it to be off-balance. By 2045
it is estimated that there will be nine billion people on earth. Some
despair at these figures. Will we perhaps drown in a sea of plastic, be
blown up in a nuclear explosion, or otherwise annihilate ourselves? The
Bible states that God has a plan. He is still in control. There were will be
a new heaven and a new earth: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared." (Revelation 21:1 NLT).
The prophet Zechariah tells us: "On that day his feet will stand on the
Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split
apart, making a wide valley running from east to west." (Zechariah 14:4 NLT).
Now that's one giant leap, for mankind!
Prayer: Father, What a wonderful world you have
given us! Help us to be good stewards of all your creation. And help us to
be ready for your return. Amen.
JJ Olerenshaw
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.