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Whether it’s a school shooting, police violence, racial discrimination, campus rape, or the recent attacks in Lebanon and Paris, we receive an almost daily barrage of bad news. The world has always been broken, but with the 24 hour news cycle and social media it’s highlighted in our headlines and newsfeeds, and these events and issues are often (and rightfully) highlighted on our campus environments.
Here’s the deal: things can get real depressing real fast.
In fact, sometimes I forget there is hope.
There isn’t an instant fix for all these woes, but I do want to highlight a critical truth: there is hope. As a child of God, I know that God is bigger than these various situations, and He is working things together for the good of His people. I call it divine optimism.
[su_quote cite=”Romans 8:28″]And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.[/su_quote]
When we become fixated on the brokenness of the world, we can forget that we serve an awesome God who is building His church. My natural bent is toward pessimism (in case you couldn’t already tell), but as I’ve walk with Jesus there is a growing sense of divine optimism welling up within me. Blind optimism? No way. It doesn’t make sense and will necessarily collapse at some point because I am utterly aware of the pain and futility of life apart from God, but as my perspective has been enlarged and I’ve seen God at work over the years, I have good reason to be optimistic; Jesus is at work, and He is bigger than all the brokenness of this world.
In truth, I don’t know how things will end for the United States of America. I doubt many companies in existence today will still be here in one hundred years. But I’m not worried because I do know how things end for the us, the church: we win.
Isaiah wrote, “Of the increase of [Jesus’] government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Paul wrote, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26–27).
Jesus wins! And in Christ, we win! I challenge you to preach this to yourself. Preach this to those around you.
Jesus Wins, We Win!
Seriously, I probably reference one or more of these passages almost weekly in a large group setting, and I share some of these thoughts one-on-one almost daily. Given our frequent and heavy doses of negativity, hopelessness, and complaints, we need to be regularly reminded that not only will Jesus return one day and we will be like Him and with Him forever, but that He is continually building His church, and that His kingdom will continue to grow until that day arrives.
Things are improving. (Note: I didn’t say getting easier.) The church is growing. There are more Christians today than ever before, and we have awesome access to a variety of resources. But most importantly, the Holy Spirit is at work; His Kingdom is increasing; He is building His church.
[su_quote cite=”Philippians 1:6″]Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ[/su_quote]
Something practical: music can help me refocus, and maybe it’ll encourage you too. Here are two tracks I listen to sometimes as I consider these truths (YouTube links).
- Nobody by Tye Tribbett
- You Can’t Stop Me by Andy Mineo
Photo credit: Arrows showing up (Blender) via photon (license)
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