The world's institutions are breaking down. The schools. Law enforcement. Government itself.
This is no accident. Long before the political institutions we rely on to maintain civil order began to crumble, our major cultural institutions lost their moorings. The entertainment industry. The press. Academia. Even the churches.
We're on the downward end of a slippery slope. People recognize it. As we approach the dawning of a new millennium, it's only natural that people are asking: "With all the bad news in the world, is there any hope?" Left to our own devices, I'd say we're going down on the Titanic.
Fortunately, I don't believe we're on our own. There is order in this universe. There is One greater than us on Whom we can depend. He's always there for us. And He's got a plan for our personal salvation as well as a plan for a world without end.
At times like these--trying times--Saint Paul explained that "the righteous will live by faith." I don't think I could carry on for another day without absolute faith that righteousness would someday triumph in this world. There's too much pain, too much suffering, too much sin, too much evil.
This is the result of man exercising his own wisdom rather than relying on the laws of God. The Bible is replete with horror stories of such folly--beginning in the Garden of Eden.
For 6,000 years of human history, the story has been the same. Someone, some leader, some group, some city, some nation, even the entire world decides it knows better than God. The consequences are always dire. Whenever God is removed from the equation, something bad fills the vacuum.
But I am certain a better day is coming. And I believe it's closer than most of us think. How do we know that day is coming? Because the One who came, suffered, died and rose again told us so. He promised us--nearly 2,000 years ago. Jesus told us to watch for the signs, and they are all around us. His return is very near. He is literally at the door. As surely as He rose on the third day, I believe He will come again in the third millennium.
Open your hearts, my friends, and rejoice. For He is risen. He is truly risen, and He's coming back to straighten out this mess. All we need to do is proclaim the truth. Help is on the way.