It's Coming Ready Or Not

Since the spectacular collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter in July of 1994, a number of people have concerns about a comet or asteroid colliding with Earth sometime in the future. Governments from all over the world have been warned about impending doom, but so far, there hasn't been much response.

Integrated research by several scientific disciplines over the last decade has determined that the possibility of an asteroid or a comet hitting the Earth is much higher and far more devastating than previously imagined. However, it is believed, the chances of these "near-Earth objects" actually colliding with Earth and killing millions of people, in any one year, are very low. As a result, the threat is not a priority for cash-strapped governments.

In 1990, the U.S. Congress took note of the potential devastation that would be caused by an asteroid or comet collision on the world's population and directed NASA to study the issue. The agency's findings were warmly received, but no significant funding followed. According to the researchers who are in the field of "near-Earth-objects," policymakers today view new data about comet-asteroid threats with skepticism. But the data that has been collected by these same researchers indicates that government leaders should be paying more attention. It is not a matter of if we will get hit; it's only a question of when.

Scientists have estimated that there are over 2000 objects in Earth interfering orbits that are over 1 km in diameter and 300,000 asteroids larger than 100 meters. The energy released by these kilometer-size objects would be equivalent to megaton-level nuclear detonations. Comets constitute an even greater threat, since they would approach the earth at three times the velocity of an asteroid and have roughly ten times the energy per pound.

Not only are scientists looking ahead to the future, they are now re-evaluating the past. Large Earth craters previously thought to be volcanic in origin have now proven to have been formed by space-object impacts.

Every time I hear this discussion among scientists and politicians regarding a possible cosmic disaster in the future, I am always reminded about what the Bible has to say about this subject. There is coming a time in the future when God will use the very objects we are being warned about, to pour out His wrath upon this wicked world. Although mankind may be considering technology as a means to save the Earth, the Bible teaches that man's efforts will never be enough. The only way to avoid the coming cosmic holocaust is to place your trust in the Creator, Jesus Christ.

I am sure that the majority of the engineers and scientists who are working on the trillion-dollar budget required to save our planet from asteroid or comet impact would scoff at what I am saying. As for me, I am going to place my trust in God, rather than in man. After all, when it comes to the subject of fortelling the future, the Bible remains 100% accurate.

I am Roger Oakland. This has been a biblical perspective to help Understand the Times.