The world is in turmoil. Every thinking person, even some who are very young, can see this. The world and local news media daily reports on many of these problems. Daily, we hear and/or read of wars, terrorism, murders, thefts, fraud, hate, racial conflicts, family problems, and so much more. One wonders how intelligent people could have arrived at such an evil point and place in time.
Solomon said, “And there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). What we see today has been going on since the beginning. For example, murder took place shortly after creation. (Genesis 4:8). More wickedness soon followed. (Genesis 6:5). Drunkenness and immodesty were seen soon after the flood. (Genesis 9:20, 21). Lying, even though it was half true, was done by Sarah at Abram’s encouragement, and by Abraham himself. (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:1ff). Strife existed between the servants of Abram and Lot, brethren. (Genesis 13:7). Solomon wrote of seven things God hates, that is, pride, lying, murder, evil thoughts, mischief, false witnesses, and divisive persons. (Proverbs 6:16-19). Prejudice is not new. The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well told Jesus, “the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:1ff, esp. V. 9). BUT JESUS DID! AND WOULD! AND WOULD TEACH HIS PEOPLE TO DO SO! The list in this paragraph could be greatly extended.
QUESTION: Why did these evil things exist from the beginning, continue, and why are they still here? Why is there so much hatred in the world? Why is there so much terrorism and all of the other evil things with which we must deal daily and regularly?
Adam and Eve suffered because they rejected God to follow the devil. (Genesis 3:1ff). Cain was punished because he did not do well (Genesis 4:6, 7), did not do what God commanded. (Genesis 4:11ff; Romans 10:17). Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee….” Many people today reject God to do their own bidding, rather than allowing God to direct their steps. (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Jesus is rejected. (Matthew 21:42). Some reject the counsel of God. (Luke 7:30). The rejection of Jesus and His will can only end in final rejection by Him. (John 12:48).
It is obvious that the things being done today, even the passing of laws to correct some things, are not working. If one continues to do the same thing, one can only expect to get the same results. When asked for solutions to today’s problems, this writer has often asked people to turn to the living word of the living God. Except for Christians, the usual response is, “No, we do not want that, but tell us how to correct wrongs.” That there is no other way is evident by the numerous things that have been unsuccessfully tried. JESUS IS THE ANSWER! Why not try doing things His way, and see how it turns out? Society continues to search for answers in all the wrong places, and the hurt goes on and on.
Dear reader, you are encouraged to consider the immediate answer and solution to the problems before us. Please imagine that the entire world has just become followers of Jesus, and that each and every one now faithfully follows Him, with the key words being FAITHFULLY FOLLOWS HIM. Those who partially, when and if they like it, follow Jesus, and such like, are not under consideration. Faithfully doing the will of God is the solution. Please read on with this thought in mind, and observe what would be the immediate results of following Jesus as He directs.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old man of sin is put off, and the new man of righteousness is put on. (Ephesians 4:22-32). All are now one in Christ, as Jesus prayed (John 17:20-23), speaking the same thing, no longer being divided. (1 Corinthians 1:10).
These new people are called by a new name (Isaiah 62:1, 2), “Christian”. (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). “All that believed were together, and had all things common. (Acts 2:44). There were, and are, “things which are most surely believed among us.” (Luke 1:1; Jude 3). All who formerly lived in sin have been washed, justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). They now “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11), doing whatever Jesus says. (John 2:5; Colossians 3:17). Those “risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God…Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:1-3, 5). To mortify is to put to death, stop doing wrong. They are now seen “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” (Titus 2:11, 12). Those who “stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Ephesians 4:28).
“Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us….” (Ephesians 5:1, 2). This love stops all existing and future problems instantly. If everyone in the world is a faithful Christian, we love one another, and we no longer have enemies. However, if one does not become a Christian, or becomes unfaithful, we love them. (Matthew 5:43-48). All who were inclined to do evil are now seeking to be “fruitful in every good work.“ (Colossians 1:10). Murderers are transformed into peaceable friends and neighbors. All who were confrontational are now peaceable. (James 3:17). No one goes to bed with a heart filled with wrath. (Ephesians 4:26). Prejudice of whatever nature is gone. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ.” (Galatians 3:28; John 17:20-23). Think of what doing all that Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount would do. All would be humble, weep with those who were hurting, be meek and gentle, intensely desiring to see right things done, showing compassion, having pure minds and actions, living peaceably, and seeking to help, not hurt, others. And this is just the first 12 verses in Matthew, chapters 5-7. Look at Matthew 7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” What would applying this principle do to personal, local, state, and world relations?
Christians not only cease to do evil, hurtful things, but they “speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” (Titus 3:2). They are now “ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1), and “As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them which are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10). They are now “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19), which no longer allows them to be hurtful. Their speech is now “always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6). Following this admonition would not only allow us to effectively teach others, but would eliminate provocation to anger and friction. Cf. Colossians 3:31.
The love of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, would hold marriages together as God intended. (Genesis 2:18-25). Divorce would cease if all followed Ephesians 5:21-33. Families, friendships, businesses, and all other relationships would last. Space does not permit listing all that faithfully following Jesus would do. However, these few should illustrate the point very well.
Finally, upon telling people this, and more, over the years, we have heard, “But all are not going to do this!” Sadly, this is true. AND WE GO ON DROWNING IN OUR MISERY! We have all been taught from childhood that we learn from history. Have we? What have we learned? If ALL would turn to JESUS THE ANSWER, and “be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58), our problems would vanish today, and we could look for and anxiously await His second coming to take the redeemed to “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3, 4).
The solution, answer, to all our problems is simple and available. Why will the world not see and accept that JESUS IS THE ANSWER?
It Is Written 