Unless you’re living in complete denial, we know there’s something wrong with the world. It’s crazy chaotic and peace seems far away – both for our hearts and between people.
In light of that, I’ve seen three different statements people have regarding the world. It’s their form of hope. And each of these statements are true, but only one can really bring peace to the world. The statements are:
1. It could be worse.
Those who say “it could be worse” point to either history or other places around the globe. “At least we aren’t as bad as we were” or “at least we aren’t as bad as they are.”
The problem with this statement is that it doesn’t really offer any forward hope. It just tries to pacify the situation without fixing anything. There’s no real peace there unless your source of peace is a lack of change. We’re better than that though. Things need to change.
2. We can make it better.
This is where most people live. “We can make it better” is optimistic and empowering. And it’s true. We can make positive change to move things from where they were, to where they are, and to where they could be. We have to be the agents of change to make this happen.
The problem is, few of us agree on how to actually make things better. So we spend most of our time arguing about whether or not guns should be banned or proliferated. Whether Democrats or Republicans should dominate the presidency and congress. “We can make it better” is hopeful, but not ultimately going to do much since we can’t agree.
3. Jesus is the answer.
This statement, for many, feels like denial or pacifism. It isn’t. This statement doesn’t ignore the truths of the other two statements. It’s the completion of them.
Jesus is the answer to the messed up state of the world. Things aren’t what they were, but they also aren’t what they could be if we gave the situation to Jesus.
If we could all agree – even if only the Christians could agree – that the only solution to the world’s problems is Jesus, I believe things would change. If we would stop chasing gun control vs proliferation, Republican vs Democrat, and start chasing the hope Jesus gives, I believe the world would change.
Better belief systems and even more hope won’t fix the world. Only when people’s hearts are turned toward Jesus will we find the answers we need.
