Living in Beijing we keep a wary eye on the Air Quality Index (AQI), to see if it is safe to go outside without a protective mask. Yesterday when I looked the AQI was 170 (Unhealthy), which is kind of normal here. While I wasn’t watching the AQI soared to over 400 (Hazardous). After seeing the change, we stayed inside and ran our air purifiers at full blast. Normally Beijingers don’t get worked up until the index is over 300 and then just don their masks. It makes me wonder about the people that don’t have or choose not to wear masks to protect their airways.
Besides the countless numbers of people and vehicles in Beijing, thousands of factories are in the province that surrounds the city. When it rains the air is cleaner and at certain times of the year the winds blow the pollution out of the city. Unfortunately Beijing is on the edge of a desert and so it seldom rains and dry winds from the desert can blow dust into the city.
In this country where the government controls everything, they can clean the air when it serves their purpose. During the Olympics, the government restricted the number of vehicles in the city and shutdown many factories. They wanted the world to see a beautiful city, with clear blue skies. I thought that was a great accomplishment, but didn’t realize they could do it whenever then want. We have lived here a few months and noticed when an important visitor comes to town or on a significant Holiday, they can change the air quality dramatically.
I wish we had an index to let us know when the sin of this world was damaging our souls. Maybe a visual indicator could tell people when the ravages of sin were getting worse and would cause them to take protective measures. Much like air pollution, we can get used to a certain level of sin, though it is causing long-term damage. If we don’t look for the indicators, sin can get dramatically worse and harm or kill us in a short period of time.
The world has some control over sin and may even take action to temporarily shutdown the sources of the damage and project the image that everything is fine. They can’t make us clean again and sin will eventually return and continue to harm those who are unprotected.
We do have protections from the damage sin causes. JESUS is our purifier, but we must realize our need for HIS cleansing power and accept it. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). Once we are clean, we must listen to the HOLY SPIRIT to warn us of increased danger and when we need more protection. Our protection is prayer, GOD’s word and obedience to Him.
Wayne Lance (2014)