WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

August 2005 article by Nathan Sanders

In the last few weeks we have seen the devastation which can be made from so few people, in the London bombings. We have seen many similar kinds of attacks around the world in the last year or so. It all seems to have started from the Twin Towers in New York, then Iraq with suicide bombers fighting against the troops sent in. Soon after we had the Madrid bombings and now, what we feared most, would be the rise of terrorism in England, particularly in London.

A lot of people have been left confused after these attacks. People have been scared into cancelling trips, holidays, days out or even feel afraid to travel to work. And in some sad cases, people have lost loved ones to this wave of terrorism. These attacks and bomb scares have had an effect on our way of life throughout the country. Places very near to us all have had these bomb scares, usually a hoax, but it disrupts our lives. Places like Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stourbridge are just a few that spring to mind. Friends and families worry when a family member or friend is travelling on public transport, especially in London, hoping that there is not going to be another news flash.

It’s no secret that sin is more acceptable in society in this day and age. Not just with bombers wanting to kill on a large scale, but down to everyday life. You can hardly turn a page in your local newspaper without some kind of offence or violence being committed. And then down to the sin we commit in our own lives.

So what hope is there left in this world? There is only one solution, and that solution is trusting in God. The Bible record has been left for us to read and learn from, and we have been told about the trials and tribulation we may encounter and how to deal with them.

In the book of Luke, chapter 21 and verse 21 we read

“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences”

and

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”.

The Bible prophesies a time of distress, a time of war and time of fear. And we have that now, don’t we? For those who are concerned about the state of the world today, the future from a worldly point can look quite grim, and even the Bible says it will be a time of unrest (distress). But what we need to do is to look at the bigger picture. Why is there all this war? Why is there all this violence; man wanting to kill another? As we have already seen from the book of Luke:

“Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”.

We are obviously a part of this world, part of this society which has to put up with the goings on in this world, but that’s not what we have to concentrate on. We have to concentrate on something else, something not of this world. And that thing is God. God is working His plan. We do not know why these things have to happen, but God is there working away

The Bible promises the return of Jesus to this world to save those who faithfully follow him. Have a look in the same chapter of Luke, chapter 21 and verse 27:

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.

With all the problems that surround us at the moment, the best thing we can do it to put our full trust in God, serve Him the best we can and await the return of His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is this dark world’s light.