This Is Why Jesus Came

I read a lot of news. I know this might not be healthy (mental health) but I do it anyway. I read news from a source on the left, a source on the right, and a source that is still trying to be non-partisan. Today I read about racism, murder, financial ruin, and COVID.  I read about the anger between progressives and conservatives, abortion, protests, and politics. I read about natural disasters and wars and Haitian kidnappings of people who had the audacity to try to help.

It isn’t news to say it is depressing.

At my age, it is easy to say things are getting bad—really bad. Last week I even found myself praying about how corrupt and depraved we have made the world.

Then I was reminded of the fact that my grandparents, and later parents, basically saw their worlds in pretty much the same way. As I look back, I remember my youth and early adulthood. As I was getting married, going to college, and learning the beginnings of how to serve the Lord, the world was a mess.

–The world was going to end any moment when one of the countries with THE BOMB finally pushed the wrong button.

–The Vietnam war was dragging on, and America was deeply divided over it.

–The economy was failing with inflation so high mortgages reached 17%.

–We had to line up for gas on the day that fit our license plate, hoping the tip we got was right and the gas station had enough to fill our tank.

–Race relations were strained, black people feared white people and white people feared black people. White people ran the country, and all others struggled to get a piece of the pie—or to take the pie away.

–Women had just won the right to consider their babies as non-people and (from the perspective of many of us) kill them.

–Domestic terrorism was gaining publicity and everyone looked for Patty Hearst when they visited a bank (if you don’t understand that reference, Google it:-)).

–Cancer was largely uncurable, and on the horizon, AIDS was waiting to terrorize the world.

–Women had it made—as long as they didn’t mind not having the same rights as men.

–Morality was being redefined in almost every way, and “Question Authority” was one of the most common bumper stickers.

I suspect if I had the opportunity to interview someone from each century—or half-century—they would have their own version of this list. I am sure whoever you are, and whatever your age, you could make a similar list.  So, we need to remember:

1) We live in a fallen and cursed world. That isn’t superstition, it is fact. The world was made by God and is good. But we have bent it, poisoned it, and made it toxic to everyone and everything that lives in it.

2) This should not surprise us—we were told it would be like this (without the details) back in Genesis.

3) This is why Jesus came. He has not only redeemed us but the world we live in. It hasn’t been realized yet, so we look around and feel it is all headed for a metaphoric cliff. And it is. The end, however, isn’t being engineered by us, but by the King.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4, NIV)

Know Jesus and Be Faithful!