Saving for What?

A recent Washington Post article revealed global plans for a "Doomsday Vault". Plans are being made to build a high security vault the length of a football field on a remote island near the Artic Circle. According to the article, more than 100 nations have endorsed the vault's construction as one of the most secure facilities in the world. The vault is to serve as a global agricultural backup in case of a world catastrophe. Castrophic circumstances either by human hands (nuclear war, bio terror), or natural disaster (global pandemic, or an off course asteroid) are the motivation behind the planned fortress. It will be designed to protect, millions and millions of seeds. Yes, seeds! It takes a lot of crops to feed the world and those crops all had to begin as seeds. The evolution of seeds, both natural and hybrid (drought and disease resistant) have taken thousands of years to achieve. Protection of the seeds would guarantee that human agricultural efforts wouldn't have to start from scratch in the years following such a disaster.

As a Christ follower looking forward to spending eternity with God while living in this world, this would be laughable, if it wasn't so sad. Now hold the letters on the need for emergency preparation and being on guard for such events. Let me finish. I know we need to prepare for the future and potential disasters of epic proportions. However, has anyone really thought this proposal through? I mean really? For those of us with a biblical worldview we know that life on this earth WILL pass away and so will our failed human flesh. But for those following Christ, the world to come is promised to be far better than anything we can experience on earth, including Hawaii. And our eyes are supposed to be eternally focused, not blinded by human stuff or things.

Such extreme precautionary living puts the focus on human surivial at all costs. It conveys the attitude and idea that there is nothing worth living for beyond this world. As for me, if all out nuclear war comes, or an asteroid slams into the planet destroying plant life, oxygen, water and sunlight, I want Jesus to take me quickly. I don't want to live in a world that worships the world or people. I want to learn to pray with the Psalmist, "Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;O LORD, come quickly to help me." (Psalm 40:13)

Who wants to live in a world protected by glass domes, no sun, running water, or clean air? And just how are they going to get to these seeds if they are stashed way up north if life as we know is over? If the soil is destroyed how will we get anything to grow? The writer of Hebrews says, that the, "land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. " (Hebrews 6:8).

When the disciples argued about who would be first in the Kingdom of God, Jesus admonished them and urged them to live life as though the end were near any moment. The Apostle Paul writing the believers in Thesolanica stressed the need for Christ followers to live every day as though Christ were coming (1 Thess 5:1-75):

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled."

I'm all for emergency planning, but I want people to know that I will not cling to this world and I am not putting my hope in humanity. My hope is in Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom. I need to live in the here and now, in such a way that points the hopeless people of the world to that promised Kingdom of God to come and life with Him beyond the grave. Go ahead and plan and prepare for such a world that will be dark, barren and lifeless. But I'm going to cling to the words of the the old Apostle John, exiled on the Isle of Patmos, who gives us a glimpse of a life that's far better than anything here on earth:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5)