Long, long ago, Man’s primal sins
Were washed out in The Flood
Our modern sins are washed away
In Jesus’ precious blood.
The rainbow was God’s Promise
That He would not let us drown—
The waters here are rising…
But I’m sure He’ll bring them down.

The wisest words of science
May be changed from day to day
From one year to another,
No one knows what they might say
But the bible is consistent,
So we know it must be true—
The waters here are rising…
But I’m sure that He’ll come through.

The predictions of the scientists
Are coming true in droves;
Where we once had sandy beaches
There are inundated coves
I have faith in my Creator;
This must only be a test—
The waters here are rising…
But I’m sure He knows what’s best.

When the night is looking darkest,
That’s the time for faith and trust
I’ll surrender unto Jesus
As the Good Book says I must.
I could face annihilation
If the choice I make is wrong—
The waters here are rising…

Now, you might think today’s verse was inspired by the recent New York Times article on the disappearing nation of Kiribati. After all, in a nation where the evidence for rising seas is literally all around you, there are “skeptics” (NY Times’s choice of word, not mine):

The skeptics include the rural and less educated residents of the outer islands who doubt they could obtain the skills needed to survive overseas, and Christians who put more faith in God’s protection than in climate models. “According to their biblical belief, we’re not going to sink because God is the only person who decides the fate of any country,” said Rikamati Naare, the news editor at Radio Kiribati, the state-run broadcaster.

But that’s not it. Regular readers both might recognize this verse from a little over 5 years ago. February, 2011, when NPR ran their own 2-part report on Kiribati. In the meanwhile, the waters have risen, freshwater wells have become inundated with seawater, and … well, read the NY Times report. It is a both environmentally and politically complex.

“Complex” being an understatement, at least on the political end of the problem. The environmental one looks undeniably horrible. Well, it does, until I remember how attractive denial can be:

While some people were alarmed, the pastor, Ms. Rube, said she refused to accept the idea that Kiribati could disappear.

“We are Christians,” she said. “So we don’t believe that God could have given us this world and then take it away.”/