You are hereby invited to participate in an informal and unscientific survey.  Please raise your hand if you:

• Think that the world is getting noticeably better with each passing day. 
• Believe that those in authority have everything under control. 
• Feel that the world is growing steadily safer and less violent.
• Sense that mental health, sound judgment, and common sense are surging.
• Perceive that humanity is becoming more decent and virtuous all the time.
• Find that it’s easier and easier to trust others and to rely on their integrity.
• Envision that if things stay on their present course, earth’s future is bright.

If you raised your hand in agreement with any of these statements, you most likely are a newly arrived visitor from some other planet, have recently awakened from a decades-long coma, or are in desperation-induced denial.  For those in the third category (deep denial), have you happened to observe any of the following?

• Outbreaks of evil and their rapid metastasis
• Frequent emergence of ominous developments
• Geometric growth of new and existing threats
• Frightening instability everywhere 
• Deliberate destruction of safeguards and defenses 
• Governments tottering and tumbling
• Pervasive corruption of individuals and institutions 
• Collapsing economies
• Worldwide breakdown of established social order
• Uncertainty and chaos on every side

Have you personally experienced or engaged in:

• Rampant escapism via substance abuse, sex, entertainment, etc.
• Obsessive “prepping,” and or plans to relocate to “safe” areas 
• High anxiety or panic attacks, as events spin out of control (tightness in the chest, constriction in the throat, pounding heart…)
• Feelings of helplessness, apathy, lethargy or soul-crushing depression
• Terror over what is happening
• Dread of what is coming

Open your eyes and look around.  See the global trends in drug overdoses, suicides, and crime rates (especially the eye-popping rise in murders and assaults).  It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that something is terribly wrong, in numerous areas and to an astonishing degree.  It’s alright—you can admit it.  By this point, only the very naive or foolish among the powers that be can possibly think that they are doing a swell job of hiding all of this, anyway.  On the contrary, world leaders and influencers seem intent on stoking people’s fears as a means of misdirecting and manipulating them.

This isn’t philosophy or social science or the beginning of yet another political harangue. It’s not even commentary.  It’s just what is—a quick and far from complete overview of prevailing contemporary conditions.  Note for example, that items such as conflicts between nations and ethnic groups, the meteoric rise of surveillance states, the corresponding implosion of privacy and personal liberty, global censorship of speech and the COVID-19 pandemic and much more were not listed.  It was not necessary, simply to make the point that we are drifting in uncharted waters and the roaring of the falls is getting louder by the minute.

Which brings us to the question on the lips of countless millions around the world who stare and this mess and stammer, “What can we do?”  I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I’m going to continue urging people to come to Christ—now.  The world doesn’t need a savior.  It already has one.  His name is Jesus, and there is not a person alive today who does not need Him.  I do not pretend that everyone who has heard of Jesus agrees or admits that this is the case.  I’m just stating the facts.  Everyone needs Jesus, now more than ever.

So I appeal to you.  Don’t look to political leaders or military strongmen to fix this.  Don’t wait around for some worldly atheistic (or Satanic) answer man.  We are already drowning in secular humanists who denigrate and dismiss Christ, but don’t even know Him.  Unless we pray for them, share Him, and show them His love, it is probable that they never will.

Regardless, their schemes have never brought lasting happiness, peace and security. It is certain that they have never brought righteousness or credible assurance of eternal life—not to anyone, not ever.

They cannot take away their own sins, much less forgive yours.  Jesus lived His life without sin, accomplishing as the Son of God, what no one else could, before or since.  He did not need atonement, so He was worthy (qualified) to atone for the sins of others.  He chose to do this out of His love for all people, including you and me.  In dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus paid the penalty that we deserve, so that we could be free from death and hell.

Through His sacrifice, Jesus provided justification for His father to extend His grace to us (grace is undeserved favor).  In reconciling us to God, Jesus made peace with Him on our behalf—permanent peace, which Christ now offers to those who trust in God’s mercy, repent of their sins, and confess Jesus as Lord.  Through His blood we receive pardon and peace, real peace that we can enjoy right now, even as this world unravels before our eyes.

But Jesus means much more and offers even more to those who humble themselves and accept the pardon Jesus died to give them.  When He rose again on the third day and ascended back to heaven, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to comfort and regenerate us.  When we place our hope and trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to each of us, to live with us on the inside.  From then on, we are never alone, because God is always with us. The Holy Spirit makes us more Christ-like by leading us into the truth as Teacher and Guide, and reminding us of everything that Jesus did and taught.  We also receive from God a new nature that doesn’t have to be a slave to sin.  As a result, we can lead productive and purposeful lives.

But Jesus is even greater and more generous than this.  He gives us a new birth from above, a spiritual, not merely physical birth. When we’re born again supernaturally, we become a brand-new person who loves God and other people.  Let that sink in—a fresh start, new ambitions, new dreams, hopes, and desires.  This includes the ability to understand and obey God’s word, giving us knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight.

Jesus supports us in our new life by personally interceding for us with the Father, as our High Priest who never stops advocating for us, because He cannot die again. Jesus mediates between us and His Father, defending us against Satan’s accusations and demands for our punishment.

Yet there is more that Jesus gives.  He shares His own righteousness with those who receive Him, chalking it up to their account, so that when the Father looks at them, He sees pure righteousness.  He sees Christ, not sinners with a commuted sentence.  Because of this, we can approach the throne of God in prayer, confident that He hears us, when we ask for His help, in Jesus’ name.

You should also know that Jesus places us exactly where He wants us within the Church, which is His body on earth.  He ensures that we receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, equipping and enabling us to be effective in the role to which Christ, who is the Head of the Church, has called us.  By placing us in a community of believers, Jesus gives us belonging and encouragement, help and mutual accountability.

Sorry, I’m not done yet.  By virtue of the salvation Jesus purchased for us with His own precious blood, He also changes our destiny.  Jesus actually makes us His heirs, future kings and priests who’ll rule and reign with Him.  He changes our citizenship from a dying earth to a brand new earth and sparkling new heaven. Our old address may be condemned and our mortal bodies may have an expiration date, but we can remain unfazed because our citizenship is in heaven and a glorious future awaits.

Still not finished.  Although we don’t deserve to BE in heaven in the first place, Jesus has promised to reward us there, for our service to Him on earth.  Even if we always faithfully served Him here (which we most certainly do not), we would only have done our duty.  Yet, out of His amazing love, Jesus has promised believers lavish rewards that we can enjoy forever!  When God rewards you, it has to be pretty spectacular.  Jesus says it will be far more wonderful that we can even imagine.

Did I mention the brand new bodies Christ will give to all of His followers at His return—the body like His—the permanent, deluxe model that’s bursting with energy and vitality, that can’t get sick, can’t be in pain, can’t grow old, can’t die? No?  How careless of me…

How about the heavenly homes Jesus Himself has prepared for believers, which we will receive when He comes back for His own?  Better still, we will live where He lives, never to be separated again.

In addition to experiencing life with God face-to-face and thrilling to all of the glories of heaven, those in Christ can look forward to reunion with loved ones who died believing in Him and are now in heaven, eager to greet us.  This too, is courtesy of Jesus, our Maker and Redeemer, through His finished work on the cross.

I could go on indefinitely (I haven’t even touched on my own story, as a follower of Christ and all that my Savior has done for me), but I think you get the gist. The Apostle John, a disciple and close friend of Jesus, said it best: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (I John 5:11-12)

My friend, don’t delay.  Come to Jesus.  Come now.

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)