The world today faces a multiplicity of problems that demand the attention of politicians, sociologists, philosophers, physicians, and educators. At times, the solutions seem as controversial as the problems themselves. Where do we find clarity in the midst of confusion, chaos, and uncertainty? Is there any light in this darkness that seems so pervasive and prolonged?
The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jeremiah 8:9). Wait a minute! Does the Bible really have answers to the division, disease, devastation, depression, and even death that cast a cloud on humanity today? And if so, where in the Bible do we look?
So how about if we start at the beginning? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Everything in the entire universe is a product of God’s creative mind and hand. The crowning jewel of that creation occurred on the sixth day when God made man. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26-27).
A Created Soul
Unique to this creation of human life was that God put within man a living soul. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). Everything in this universe is temporary and one day will cease to exist. Jesus declared in Mark 13:31a, “Heaven and earth shall pass away.” Not so with man, however. He was given an eternal soul that will live beyond his existence on earth for all of eternity.
God desires that his most beloved creation would spend eternity with Him. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). For the human being, life does not end with physical death. Our bodies will return to the dust upon physical death, but the soul that God put within man lives on. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
The Curse of Sin
With the creation of the soul in man, God gave humanity the ability to choose. Nothing else in God’s creation has that privilege. Every created thing in the universe does exactly what God intended, without a will of its own. Man however, was placed in the Garden of Eden where God had just one simple rule: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16b-17).
Facing his choice, man made a grave mistake. Scripture records their sin of disobedience and the consequences of it. “…Because thou hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17). There is the root of the problems we face today. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
A Compassionate Savior
All of the devastation we experience on a daily basis is a result of that curse—but there is great news! “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). God in His intense love for man sent His Son to die for our sins. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Just as Adam in the Garden, you and I have a choice to make. We can choose to remain in our sinful condition or choose a Savior. In doing so, we are choosing our eternity!
A Ceaseless Suffering
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). An eternal lake of fire called hell is the future for those who die without Jesus Christ as their Savior. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into a lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). The only way of escape from this eternal wrath is through God’s Son: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
A Celestial Splendor
The solution to our problems is not in government, science, philosophy, or even religion. Jesus Christ is our only hope in a world of problems produced by sin. When we admit our sinful condition and put our faith in Jesus Christ, a wonderful place called heaven awaits us upon our exit from this earth. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:3–4).
The gospel is the only solution. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This is why we MUST “Declare the Gospel!”
