Hieromonk Savatie Bastovoi
We cannot save ourselves. We cannot save anything. Not even a tree. Not even a flower. Everything in this universe is transient and perishable. Even if people no longer eat cows, pigs, or chickens, the planet will not be saved. Because both cows, pigs, and chickens will die of diseases and old age. In natural conditions animals die in terrible agony, torn apart piece by piece for many hours by a predator or birds. Or they suffocate with the passing days and weeks while parts of their bodies rot. If the animals on the planet were to die of old age, the stench and infections they would spread would kill humanity.
Yes, this world as we see it will be destroyed. Humanity will deteriorate to such an extent that there will be no purpose left for its perpetuation in the conditions of this world. People will become so foolish that all their actions will lead to the destruction of everything. The cause of this stupidity and madness of people will be the complete loss of faith in God, as Christ Himself told us about those times: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
All we can save as humans is our soul not the planet, not the trees, not even the rare animals.
If we keep our souls focused on Heaven, nothing earthly will blind us: we won’t need to cut down millions of hectares of forests, we won’t torment millions of animals by keeping them in the dark and filth to fetch better prices, we won’t poison waters because we won’t transport oil and toxins through them. We wouldn’t need bombs and missiles to annihilate millions of innocent people; we wouldn’t need anything that drives the world towards self-destruction.
Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you! (Matthew 6:33).
