ON CHRISTIANITY

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist? I admit I’m a pessimist, because I don’t see much hope of the world ever getting any better. Do you?

— F.R. DEAR F.R.: If I only looked at what is happening in the world today (or for that matter, what has happened throughout history) then I too would be a pessimist. The writer of Ecclesiastes in the Bible put it this way: “What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

But I am not a pessimist — and the reason is because I’ve read the last chapters of the Bible. The future is in God’s hands, and some day He will intervene and all the evil and heartache we presently experience will come to an end. Jesus Christ will return to establish His kingdom, and He will rule the world in perfect justice and peace. We can hardly imagine this — but it’s true. The Bible says, “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

Why does the world never seem to get any better? Why do wars and conflicts still threaten us? I’m thankful for every effort that’s made to bring about peace, and sometimes they are successful — at least for a time. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

But why don’t our efforts at peace last? Why can’t we seem to get along with one another — even in our own families? The problem is within us — within our own hearts and minds. And this is why we need Jesus Christ, for only He can transform our hearts and replace our selfishness and hate with His love and compassion. Is this happening with you? Submit your life to Him today.