It is the season of orange. The sun is an abnormal orangy-light today as there is wildfire smoke in the air. Vast areas in the eastern part of my state are on fire and burning.
Hundreds of thousands have had to evacuate their homes.
Many hundreds have lost their homes.
My heart grieves for my state.
As I was listening to my Spotify playlist today, Phil Wickham’s song “Hymn of Heaven” came on, and the opening line is: “How I long to breathe the air of heaven …”
Yes! Oh yes … I really do long to breathe the air of heaven! Especially when the air I’m currently breathing outside is heavy “campfire smoke” air. It sits heavy on your chest and fills up your lungs.
Before 2014 I don’t ever remember “smoke season.” I’m not sure what changed around 2014, but ever since then “smoke season” has occurred every single year, with vast tracts of land burning out-of-control.
As I look at the map of the United States it’s interesting to see how the wildfires in my state are having an impact on the air quality across the rest of the United States.
I’ve often wondered if the yearly devastation of “fire season” is part of God’s judgment on my state of Washington for the wickedness which is occurring in our governmental offices as well as in our society at large.
I find God’s judgment to be ironic considering that out of the entire United States, the three states which worship the environment above all else (Oregon, Washington, and California) are the three states which have been burning out of control every year … subsequently releasing immeasurable amounts of toxins into the atmosphere.
So ironic!
All of our efforts to “Save the environment” by drinking out of paper straws … and recycling religiously are worthless compared to God’s sovereign hand of judgment against our states for our great wickedness.
It reminds me of God’s judgment against the nation of Egypt during the 10 Plagues (Exodus chapters 7-12). God’s 10 judgments against the nation of Egypt directly corresponded to the gods the people of Egypt were worshiping.
Not much has changed. Today the god which the people of my state are worshiping is the god of the environment. It makes sense that God is directing his judgment against the god which is being worshiped.
God has a lot to say in the Bible about his judgment against the nations for their wickedness. (see: Isaiah chapters 13-23; Jeremiah chapters 46-51; Ezekiel chapters 26-32).
From Isaiah:
“See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; … The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the exalted of the earth languish.
“The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; the people must bear their guilt.” – Isaiah 24:1-6
From Jeremiah:
“You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on earth, declares the LORD Almighty. … The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout … against all who live on the earth. The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind …
“Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” – Jeremiah 25:29-32
As we are now in the season of orange, with heavy wildfire smoke hanging in the air and temps climbing up into the high 80’s-low 90’s (making it even harder to breathe) I think this season of orange is both a warning from God specifically to my state of Washington … as well as an obvious display of God’s patience towards us. God is giving fair warning to everyone, through the fiery flames which are devouring vast tracts of our state, that one day fiery judgment is coming … and now is the time to repent!
Every year … the season of orange.
And every year … another display of God’s kindness and patience to give people a chance to repent and turn from their wicked ways.
“God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved.” – 1 Peter 3:20
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man [Jesus Christ]. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and … the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man [Jesus Christ].” – Matthew 24:37-39
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises … He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9
“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8
