Our Amazingly Resilient Planet

2 Peter 3:13
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Many environmentalists would have us all believe that the Earth is as fragile as a raw egg. While creationists agree that we must be good stewards of the planet God has put us on, we believe He created our planet to be amazingly resilient. Even when we do something that some people feel is harmful to our planet, the natural processes that God has put into place – combined with man’s own creativity – will keep our world from self-destructing.

The plant in Iceland where the discovery was made As you know, carbon dioxide is now mistakenly considered to be a pollutant. Environmentalists are saying that the carbon dioxide being produced by mankind is putting our planet in jeopardy, so they’ve concentrated their efforts on reducing carbon emissions.

But now, scientists in Iceland have discovered a way to quickly turn carbon emissions quite literally into stone. According to Science News, researchers have found that “95 percent of the carbon dioxide injected into basaltic lava rocks mineralized into solid rock within two years.” One of the study’s co-authors noted, “It’s working, it’s feasible and it’s fast enough to be a permanent solution for storing CO2 emissions.” He also said, “We have enough basalt globally to take care of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions, theoretically.”

How ironic that volcanoes – which add so much carbon dioxide to our atmosphere with each eruption – might just turn out to provide the solution to so-called carbon pollution!

Prayer: Oh Lord, I know I can rest assured that the planet You placed me on will not be destroyed until the day that You create new heavens and a new earth! Amen.

Author: Steven J. Schwartz
Ref: Thomas Sumner, “Volcanic rock can quickly store CO2,” Science News, 7/9/16, p. 14. Photo: The plant in Iceland where the discovery was made. Credit: Juerg Matter/Science. (Fair Use)