Is there any hope?

First, covid was a threat; then lockdown and furloughs and work-from-home transformed our lifestyles.  Zoom became massive overnight, clapping for the NHS was de rigour each Thursday at 8pm.  But many suffered and died out of reach of family love.  And then, two years later, we thought everything was getting back to normal.

But then, Mr Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine amid threats of nuclear war.  Ghastly horrors for Ukrainians were followed by sanctions.  But they induced globally increased costs of oil and gas.  The longer term vista is of rising mineral, grain and fish prices along with rising inflation and falling living standards.  'Normal life' is now different.

Russia has bared its teeth. China's decades of soft global influence is not just about its ambitions for Hong Kong and Taiwan.  Its steady progress in making the Yuan/RMB/CYN the global currency displacing the dollar, shows its global ambitions.  Is there any hope for a 'normal' future?

Biblically, the only assured normality is of wars and rumours of wars (Matthew 24:6). That is, until Jesus comes. Until that time, fallen humanity desperately invents short-term normalities to build their lives upon.  But they do not account for the long-term when Jesus comes in judgement to those who reject Him and salvation for those who have received Him.

2 Peter 3:3-9 says: "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” He promised?  Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ ...  But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

What a huge relief that our only real hope is to be found in Christ. Let us cry out to Him!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5).

© Dr Paul Adams