Gods Own The Future
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . . . to give you who are troubled rest.
2 Thessalonians 1:2, 7 NKJV
In recent years we have been witnessing an increase of violence in the Western world. It has been said that our era will be known as “the age of violence.” I don’t know what it’s going to be called, but I do know that the future belongs to God. To you who are troubled by the events you read about in your newspapers, to you who are disturbed about the things you see on your television screens, the apostle Paul says, “Rest with us.” What he is saying is, “Relax.”
There are three problems we have never been able to solve. The first is that of human iniquity. The city of Pittsburgh is the headquarters of over a hundred major corporations. The city has solved some great human problems through technology. It was in Pittsburgh that Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine. Here is a city that could teach the world a few lessons. But there’s one problem none of our great cities has solved—the problem of human iniquity: lying, hate, lust, greed. When Christ comes back He’s going to solve that problem.
There is another problem that has not been solved: the problem of human suffering. Modern civilized man is developing a high suicide rate. He may live in the finest home in town, and yet suffer from a broken heart, loneliness, boredom, physical or mental suffering. Christ at His return will take away suffering; He says He will wipe away all tears. There will be no more backaches or headaches; cancer and heart disease will be eliminated; mental illness will be no more. All the diseases of mankind will be cured when Christ comes back.
The greatest unsolved problem of all is the crisis of death, which each of us has to face. “It is appointed unto men once to die,” says the Bible. But when Christ returns for His church, those redeemed ones who are alive will not die but will be caught up to meet Him in the air. For them, death will be ended.
When Christ comes, peace will come. Our greatest statesmen and scholars are seeking a way for peace, but they are attempting to do it without the Prince of Peace. Man cannot bring enduring peace. Enduring peace will be brought only when the Prince of Peace comes and sets up His great and mighty Kingdom.
Our Father and our God, You are the only source of real peace in this world of stress and frustration. Iniquity will remain, suffering will remain, death will remain. But with You in my heart, I can find peace. I can rest and sleep in calmness of spirit. I worship You, Lord, and I thank You, all in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.