When Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble…” I wonder if He knew the trouble we would face in 2017? From shootings, to crazy natural disasters, to people trying to rekindle Civil War battles…we seem to be falling apart. And that’s just the United States! That doesn’t even factor in the troubles of the rest of the world!
Some say “It’s just the end of the world. That’s just the way things are going to be.” And they resign themselves to complete inactivity and involvement in the world. Sticking your head in the sand cannot be the best answer, can it?
Everyone wants to blame someone or something else. It’s Trump’s fault. It’s Black Lives Matter’s fault. It’s the NRA’s fault. It’s global warming. There must be a better solution than just pointing fingers. I don’t hear anyone saying our greatest problem is US.
Part of the reason our world is falling apart is because it is filled with people that are naturally and spiritually falling apart. Jesus keeps speaking when He tells us our world will be full of trouble. He says “…but I have overcome the world.” In other words, He knew our world was going to pieces. The world was going to pieces 2000 years ago! All we are experiencing today are new methods of failure. Concert shootings are new, but shootings are not. Giant hurricanes in Houston are rare, but natural disasters are not. We are hesitant to say our world is spinning out of control, but it is and Jesus told us it would. His is the only hand that can stop it.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with our messed up world? Peace Corp does not have the answer. Neither do climate change scientists or gun control advocates. Laws will not regulate our fallen state. Fix one problem and ten more will pop up in its place. We are a people overwhelmed by our sin. Our only answer is a Savior.
Jesus also said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” You may think my thoughts are outdated. Like, “This is kid’s stuff. God is real, but certainly He expects us to work out our own problems.” Actually, that is the crux of the Gospel. If we could work out our problems on our own we wouldn’t need Jesus. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our own inability to survive. Apart from Jesus we are walking a path of destruction that leads straight to death. Down this path we find mass shooters, disasters unspeakable, and very un-civil wars. Square zero is not a place we want to be, but it is exactly where we find ourselves every time we steer the ship. We need a new captain; a new Rescuer. Enter Jesus.
Psalm Nine reminds us of our plight. David writes in verse 15, “The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.” Is this not where we are finding ourselves again and again? Are we not caught? David offers the answer in the same Psalm in verse 9: “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
The only answer to our cultural quicksand is a Rock named Jesus.