Many people keep asking me about the world. It's just so evil, apathetic, and chaotic right now. They wonder why. Well, the Bible made specific predictions about the future to prove it came from God. Also, to motivate us to return to Him. We'll look at just one conversation Jesus had with His disciples about the future. Look at what Jesus said, what's happening in the world, and make your own decision. I hope seeing that the Bible predicted all of this leads you to listen carefully to how Jesus says to handle it.
(Note: If you already know it's true, skip to the solution here. That's the Gospel in 3 minutes with proof it's true.)
"And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matt 24:3-14)
He talks about the world and the people in it.
In the world, he says everyone will start fighting more than we've ever
seen. That's the first sign we gotta get right with God. People have
always fought with each other. Then, the last century saw the first, world
wars. Whole continents worth of countries were involved either directly or
indirectly. One ended after a country invented weapons that could murder
entire cities at once. Then, destroyed two as easily as pressing a button.
The next war was cold since there might be nobody left if it got hot.
Currently, the main thing holding back global or nuclear war are the
countries that went to war the most. Some hope.
Famines. The world has more food than ever. There's starving people
everywhere. They were usually poor. Then, the mightiest, richest, and most
high-tech country on Earth just went through a famine with tens of
millions of people. That's despite all its productive farmland. That
country even pays farmers not to grow food. People in Bible times wouldn't
have imagined such circumstances. Jesus knew what was coming.
He warns lots of earthquakes will start happening. He implies they'll kill
more people. Scientists are at a loss to explain record levels of
earthquakes killing piles of people. Jesus said it's God's wrath working
through nature. Repent if you see it.
That's the world. Whats he say about how people will change?
Record numbers of religious people making fake promises. God wants you to
empower your self, live out your fantasies, have perfect health, and be
rich. Just give us your money first or subscribe to our channel. Knowing
Jesus' name has power, Jesus predicts many will claim this is about or
from Him. Treat anyone preaching feel good stuff that says it's all about
you as suspect. Elsewhere, Jesus says the real Gospel's hard truths and
choices will offend people. It's about what God demands, not what we want.
Hate and lawlessness going up in the world. Give people a mic and watch
how they use it. Ego, lies, spewing hate. I used to just complain about
the corporate media doing that stuff. The folks that invented the Internet
hoped it would be a peaceful utopia countering all this. Then, social
media lets you be you for the good of the world. What we got: an
Internet's worth of ego, lies, and hate reaching most of the world.
Negative noise mostly drowns out the positive signal.
Regimes breaking down. Probably one in your head right now: Afghanistan.
Evil people enslaving and killing people across an entire country. This is
just another example with many others before it. Myanmar comes to mind.
The world doesn't just allow it: the leaders of those countries actually
have a voice in places like the United Nations. What kind of world
empowers people like that?
Betrayal: people turning on each other. Broken homes and relationships.
Marriage is what 50/50? Many feel like they can't trust anyone either
again or for the first time. Compared to all of them, I hope those people
see why we put our trust in the perfect and loving Jesus. He'll heal
those wounds.
Grow cold to each other. Paul prophecies here
about how people will act in even more detail. People everywhere will be
suffering in preventable ways. Largely devoid of love, most people will
step right over the homeless, starve the hungry, ignore the bullied, mock
the unfortunate, and not so much as send a letter to Congress when that
would be good enough. It's a status quo so dark that our continued
existence is itself proof of God's mercy.
He promises those who endure to the end following Him will be saved. That
busts the myth that we'll solve it all with man-made philosophies,
movements, or legislation. I mean, we've watched people try and fail for
2,000 years. Proves their theories were wrong. Jesus accurately predicted
our future before promising it will only get worse. Despite periodic
improvements, the overall trajectory will be bad. Only He can deal with
all these problems by attacking the problem at the root: our inescapably-sinful
nature. If we repent
and receive
His forgiveness, He gives us the Holy Spirit of God to dwell in us. He changes
our hearts. Abiding in Jesus and His Word daily causes His Spirit to
transform
people. Day by day, we become a little more holy and loving like Him. Now
listening to our requests, God might help us out in the circumstances we
face. Jesus' followers live their lives hand-in-hand with the Creator that
knitted
them together in the womb. We have peace,
joy
(even in hard
times), and contentment
knowing we're living out our true purpose in life.
It starts with a relationship. He wants one with us. Our selfishness and sin holds us back. Only Jesus can fix that with what He did. Humble yourself before God right now. Ask Him to speak to your heart about what's true. Then, read the Gospel (or Good News) of Jesus Christ. That one is just three minutes. The Bible says He'll make you know it's the truth since He draws us to Him. Read it now. If you accept it, He'll be in your life.
If still unsure, this site has two articles proving it's true. You won't need a Ph.D. or have to spend all day on it. With that, now you have Him pulling you toward Him with strong proof He's real. It's no longer too great a leap for you: just a small step in faith to know His love brought you here. Christ's free gift is love we don't deserve, forgiveness His sacrifice earned for us, eternal life later, and His presence in your life now. Please surrender your life to Him. Take His free gift so you can live it the way you were meant to.
(Read the Gospel, learn to share it, read other essays, or back to home.)