Garbage Heap

“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.  Who is the wise man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of Jehovah has spoken, that he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn up like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?  And Jehovah says, Because they have forsaken My Law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, and have not walked in it, but they have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart, and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them.”  Jeremiah 9:11-14

 

“Therefore, on account of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house like the high places of the forest.”  Micah 3:12

 

Recently my family had watched part of a documentary showing where much of the ‘recycled’ plastic from the United States (as well as much of the world) goes.  To our horror we watched as a Chinese family worked one of the thousands of recycling ‘factories’ in a town that specializes in receiving barges of plastic junk.  Their children, including infants, grow up in horrible conditions, living amongst a stinking heap of filthy, partially sorted plastic trash.  Then the news hit here in Kalispell, Montana about our plastic.

 

Apparently our plastic recycling also goes to China.  China has had enough and will no longer accept the plastic of the world, due to the contamination it is causing on their land.  They also cited the poor quality of the plastic they were receiving, as well as the grime.  So starting immediately there is no where for the plastic to go.  A resolution is being sought.

 

I had also seen another documentary showing electronics from the world being dumped in a country in Africa.  There a hard working advocate was trying to stop this sort of pollution in his country.  Literally fields and fields of discarded electronics from around the world, with children burning the plastic components to try and salvage any metal they might sell for a few cents at the scrap yard.  These children are breathing the air  of all of this melting plastic, as well as heavy metals, as they are collecting the metal.  Terrible. 

 

I pondered these things.  Here we have a society that pretends to push environmental causes, particularly corporations, yet apparently their green only goes as far as the money it costs to do so.  In other words, the question now is what to do with the barges that have delivered Chinese goods to the United States.  Should they return empty, instead of full of our recycled garbage?  Truly a burden, not only the United States, but other countries as well, places on those whom they can.  One that causes people to live in absolute filth and the heavy risk of disease, both from dealing with such garbage, but also the hazards of the work required. 

 

Certainly those in the know try to hide such things from the general public.  Does the public want to know that those who are manufacturing their expensive goods in far away countries do so under impoverished conditions?  Does the public want to know what really happens to much of the recycling?  Just as they do not want to know the things of God, preferring to ultimately be ignorant towards the great gift that God has given to mankind, should they choose to accept it, they would rather not deal with it, as they do not want to change their ways.

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is clearly recognized by them, for God has revealed it to them.  For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened. Professing to be wise, they become foolish, and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”  Romans 1:18-23

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

We can ignore these things as a society.  We can ignore such places as Detroit, as well as filthy places around the world.  Our societies can place our burdens upon the poorer countries of the world, yet as we sit in our cities, even those in the same countries that have much impoverishment, looking at the works of our hands, we must realize that all will be a gigantic garbage heap.

 

Think of places like the Golden Mile in Chicago.  Travel to even Latin America and behold the skyscrapers in places like Panama City.  Even in Mexico, the resort areas are full of what appears to be abundance luxury and wealth.  Travel to Shanghai and look at the impressive cityscape.  Look upon the city of Paris, or the cities of London, Moscow, Montreal, New York City, Miami, San Diego, Seattle, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv and many others and see the works of men’s hands.  Sprawling cities of intense complexity, noting that the complexity is nothing compared to that which our Creator has worked in regarding His Creation.

 

“He removes the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger;  He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals up the stars; He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea; He made the Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; He does great things past finding out, yea, wonders without number.”  Job 9:5-10

 

“The heavens declare the glory of the Mighty God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.”  Psalms 19:1

 

“Thus says Jehovah the Mighty God, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, spreading out the earth and its offspring; Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it.”  Isaiah 42:5

 

“He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; Jehovah shall have them in derision.”  Psalms 2:4

 

Yet from the fancy houses that adorn Whitefish Lake, Harbor Springs, Bar Harbor and many other resort towns for the rich around the country, understand that even those will be laid waste, a garbage heap. 

 

Why do men try to prevail and ignore God’s warnings to mankind?  Why do they not seek their Creator?  Why do they not repent and believe by faith into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, forsaking their wicked ways and focusing on their heavenly home?  Certainly they do not have citizenship in Heaven (Phil. 3:20), their names are not written in the Book of Life. 

 

“This is the purpose that is purposed upon all the earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.  For Jehovah of Hosts has purposed, and who shall annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”  Isaiah 14:26-27

 

“But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against Jehovah; and recognize that your sin will find you out.”  Numbers 32:23

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

“He makes nations great, and destroys them; He spreads out nations, and guides them.  He takes away the heart of the heads of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a wilderness with no path.  They grope in the darkness without light, and He makes them stagger like a drunkard.”  Job 12:23-25

 

“And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

 

One day the great skyscrapers of the cities of the world will come down.  One day the fancy houses that adorn cities throughout all of the world, will be nothing more than a garbage heap.  One day the luxury resorts will be abandoned and laid waste.  One day the works of man’s hands upon the whole earth will be the biggest gigantic garbage heap possible. 

 

The dams will break, the nuclear power plants will be destroyed.  The awesome freeway systems of big cities will come down, being rendered junk.  Cars will sit abandoned, the bodies of the dead will be left decomposing on the earth, with no one to bury them.  One day the women who dress in the latest fashions will find themselves looking dreadful and pathetic, their beauty turned into shame.  One day men will be scarce on the earth.  One day humankind will see the full wrath of God, towards those who refuse to repent of their iniquities. 

 

“And I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.  And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.  And the heavens separated as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  Revelation 6:12-17

 

“Speak, Thus says Jehovah, Even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung on the open field, and as the fallen grain after the reaper; and no one shall gather them.  Thus says Jehovah, Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; let not the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Jehovah, doing kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says Jehovah.  Behold, the days are coming, says Jehovah, that I will punish all the circumcised along with the uncircumcised;”  Jeremiah 9:22-25

 

“Furthermore Jehovah says, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched out necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and make a tinkling with their feet; therefore Jehovah will attach scabs to the top of the head of the daughters of Zion; and Jehovah will lay bare their secret parts.  In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, and their headbands, and their crescents of the moon, the pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils; the turbans, and the leg ornaments, and the sashes, and the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the rings and nose jewels; the festal apparel and the outer garments; and the mantles, and the purses; the mirrors and the fine linen; and the turbans and the veils.  And it shall be, instead of a smell of perfume, there shall be an odor of decay. And instead of a belt, a rope. And instead of well set hair, baldness. And instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.  Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.  And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall sit desolate on the ground.  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.”  Isaiah 3:16-4:1

 

“Howl! For the day of Jehovah is at hand! It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.  Therefore all hands shall be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt; and they shall be afraid. Pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. They shall writhe like a woman giving birth. They shall be amazed at one another; their faces like flames.  Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, cruel and with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land waste; and He shall destroy its sinners out of it.  For the stars of the heavens and their constellations shall not give light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not shine its light.  And I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. And I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants.  I will make mortal man more precious than refined gold; even mankind than the pure gold of Ophir.  Thus I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall move out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.  And it shall be as a hunted gazelle, and as a sheep that no man takes up; each man shall turn to his own people, and everyone flee into his own land.  Everyone who is found shall be thrust through; and everyone who is captured shall fall by the sword.  Their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be plundered, and their wives ravished.”  Isaiah 13:6-16

 

“And they did not repent of their murders nor their sorceries nor their sexual perversions nor their thefts.”  Revelation 9:21

 

“And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has authority over these plagues; and they did not repent to give Him glory.”  Revelation 16:9

 

Look not upon the things of this world, but rather the things of God.  Seek Him while He may be found!

 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”  1st John 2:15-17

 

“Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says Jehovah.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My Word be, which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall succeed in that for which I have sent it.”  Isaiah 55:6-11

 

Lest you also be Left Behind during that time period.  For one day the Lord will restore the garbage heap that is left when He returns with His Saints.  Where will you be in that day?  Will you have been killed during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) or will you watch in amazement to see your end, taking part of the final rebellion against your Creator? 

 

“And I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  And He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on white horses.  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He might strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelation 19:11-16

 

Take heed, God is not mocked!

 

“Do not be led astray, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8

 

Amen!