Hope For A Dying World

Posted On 2023-12-12

Psa 31:24 “Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD. ” (NASB)

Do you ever observe your surroundings and feel a sense of hopelessness? Today was one of those days for me, not for myself but for those around me who may not know Jesus or have strayed from Him. Daily, we encounter heartache, disease, moral challenges, and various struggles, seemingly multiplying as time passes. The world appears to be descending into chaos, yet many remain indifferent or apathetic.

What particularly struck a chord with me today is the prevalent sin in people’s lives, leading to potential eternal consequences. As Christians, we often find ourselves compelled to watch silently, fearing labels of hate, hypocrisy, or bigotry. We often become “Politically Correct” rather than advocating for a “Biblically Correct” lifestyle. It seems the world is increasingly resistant to hearing the truth. So, how do we discover hope in a world where our loved ones succumb to sin and follow their desires rather than God’s ways?

Rom 1:24  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 

Rom 1:25  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.(NASB)

To find hope, I must first trust that God is actively working in the lives of those I care about. Romans 1:24 indicates that God gave them over to the lusts of their hearts. God’s sovereignty extends not only to the good but also to our sin. He allows a leash to Satan, determining its length. When our loved ones are tempted or fall into various sins, God has permitted it. Even when someone we care about is caught in the act of adultery, God remains in control and is not caught off guard.

Some aspects of life remain mysterious to me, and the question of “why” often goes unanswered. Why does the Lord allow me to struggle with sin? Why does God permit Satan to cause chaos? Why do those close to me, claiming to know Jesus, return to their addictions and lies? The why questions persist, but God doesn’t promise to answer them explicitly in His Word. Instead, I focus on what He does say. Regarding the sin I witness, Isaiah 55:6-7 reassures me of God’s compassion and willingness to pardon those who turn back to Him.

Isa 55:6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (NASB)

God promises pardon to those who turn from their ways and call upon Him. When we exchange the world’s lies for God’s truth, hope is restored. 1Cor 10:13 assures us that God provides a way of escape when we face unbearable temptations. He is the sole source of hope for a world in decline. When the temptations of fleshly desires encroach and we turn away from the truth, God offers us an exit. This knowledge brings comfort, but the question lingers: “Why do so many close to me not choose to find that way of escape?”

This answer may remain a mystery for a long time. I may never fully comprehend why people resist turning from their sin and following Christ. Remembering the continuation of Isaiah 55 provides insight into God’s thoughts.

Isa 55:8  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 

Isa 55:9  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. (NASB)

God’s ways of working in human lives differ from our own. His thoughts are beyond ours, and I cannot see the big picture as He does. When someone close to me lives in sin, God may be orchestrating a thousand unseen things in their life. Reflecting on the life of King David, marked by an adulterous relationship, reveals God’s hand of restoration from the beginning.

The story of Jonah illustrates God’s sovereignty over human sin. Despite Jonah’s disobedience, God planned to save a group of people and intended for Jonah to play a role. Despite Jonah’s sin, God prepared a boat, a storm, and a big fish, orchestrating events before Jonah comprehended what was happening. God had a purpose beyond Jonah’s understanding, leading to the conversion of the entire nation of Nineveh.

God’s ways are not ours, and hope lies in understanding His sovereignty over our sins and those of the world. He is in control of the sins of our nation and its people. God is not surprised when a group celebrates gay pride in the city streets, and neither should I be. When a loved one turns away from Him and lives contrary to His ways, God is aware and allows it for reasons we may never comprehend. Hope for me stems from the promise He makes in verses like Romans 10:13.

Rom 10:13  for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” (NASB)

Today, I find hope. I find hope in praying for friends and family who have turned away from Him, knowing it is not a surprise to God. I find hope in acknowledging that His hand is at work, even when I cannot see it. And I find hope in the promise that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.