What I see when I look towards the future...

I often overhear people talking about how bad things are in the world today, how it was better in the old days or how the future seems depressing. It's true. There are a lot of horrible things happening in the world. People are hurting, hungry, wronged, abused, corrupt, etc…But I don't see things so bleakly.

C.S. Lewis said this in The Weight of Glory: “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward … promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

I might add too easily discouraged as well. So often we look at our little mud pies and sandcastles, worried about how things in this world threaten to destroy them. We build our little houses on the sand, trying to protect them from crumbling from the world's constant shifting. Maybe I see things differently since I didn't grow up in a strong, moral country. I grew up with brokenness, shootings, terrorism, tragedy and monstrous wrongs. I still remember when a little girl was kidnapped and murdered by her neighbor just down the street from us. Does that make me worried about raising my own family one day in such uncertain times with so much evil around us?  Not really.

Although I'm well aware of all the brokenness around me, I also see great hope. The fact remains that this world has always been broken and there has always been evil. Just take a look at history. It's full of evil people who did horrible things. But there's also a story of redemption. Therein lies my hope. Our desires are too weak. We want a safe world, when a new and better future is what is offered. Even Jesus told us, "in this world there will be trouble." We can expect it. We can rest assured that eventually our little castles in the sand will come crumbling down.

So what do I see? I see a generation that is no longer attached to their sand castles. They know the future is uncertain here but certain in eternity, and they desire to live like it. I see people who want to make a difference, not because they believe they can fix the world, but because they want to follow Christ's example. They want to live for what matters because our time may be short. They are keenly aware of their own brokenness and limitations, so they rely on Christ, not themselves. They are tired of fake religion and want what's real. They may not live a comfortable or safe life, but they will impact others for eternity. They will make a difference for at least one person, because that one person matters. They don't see all the wrong in the world and fall into depression, but get to work! There is much to be done. They see the coming reward and live for it!

That is what gives me hope. I want to be among those people. The point of life isn't to be safe, healthy and prosperous. If I could have that for those I love, I would give it to them. But I can't. What I can do is pour myself out for others. I can love people. I can encourage and lift others up. I may not change the whole world, but I can change it for one person. I can try to raise up leaders all around me who will do the same. Let's enlarge our vision friends. We can all be swept up into something so much bigger than ourselves and our little kingdoms made of sand. Tear down your sandcastles and live for the Glory of God. His kingdom is far better than anything you can build yourself. Let Him help you see as He sees. You'll find your hope there.

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