One

I recently had the wonderful experience of taking a trip out west to see my parents. My son was on Spring Break so we made the most of the time off. We spent a couple of days in Las Vegas and was able to catch the Michael Jackson One, Cirque de Soleil show. In a word, it was Magnificent! However, as they “Wowed the crowd” from one MJ tune to the next, one subset of songs got me to thinking.

It was very common for Michael Jackson, and many others for that matter, to put out songs that promote a social consciousness to “Heal the World”. The idea is that if we can just be more compassionate to one another, and care to come out of our own comforts to lend a hand, that we can truly make this world a better place and bring about lasting peace. I imagine that there is an Earth Song, but according to The Scriptures, it's not for us to all act better.

Here's The Word:

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

2 Peter 3:7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

The earth is not hoping for us to get our collective "act" together. It's waiting on it's renewal at the final judgment of Christ.
Now, don't get me wrong. If it's in your power to alleviate suffering, then by all means, ALLEVIATE SUFFERING. I believe that a very good message that we should hear as often as possible is the one where we should look at the comforts afforded to us and have a serious consideration for helping those with less....but fundamentally, this is a heart matter and only God can change a heart which is something He doesn't seem to do on a grand scale against the choices of individuals.

It's not my intention to douse the hopes of those who are energized by the belief that we can make a better world, I just want people to see the truth. There's no way to "Kumbya" this world into a paradise. Far more important is to put effort to the reality of desperate, degenerate hearts that need The Savior. Through sharing The Gospel message of reconciliation and fervent prayer, we play a part in God's plan to affect eternity by seeking to see men converted.

This is more a matter of scope than scorn. Not trying to put anyone down, just that the idea of 'fixing the world' has a fundamental flaw in its misunderstanding of evil.
Evil is real, present and has an agenda that can not be negotiated with. It has no demands that can be met that can pacify its desire for total destruction of anything remotely good or God honoring.
After the fall, it was no longer possible for Earth to be a paradise and only God can ultimately eradicate evil - and indeed, that is His plan. God is not seeking a compromise with evil. His plan is to utterly destroy it, in its entirety.

Here's The Word:

2 Timothy 3:13 - 15 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:14 - 15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

So again, it's imperative that Christians led by The Spirit, develop generous hearts (freely you have received, freely give -Mt 10:8); to engage themselves as servants to the needy - close neighbors as well as far-reaching peoples of foreign lands. Ultimately, this effort should be to enlighten people to something far above world peace: it should convey their need for peace with God through forgiveness of The Savior as The Bible makes it clear - "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" Hebrews 9:27 - 28
I don't like seeing the world in chaos, and sometimes its beyond my comprehension the Love, Grace and Mercy that God shows each day that He spares judgment from this cruel place. And as passionately as any song from Michael Jackson, or any other 'humanity' inspired artists, I take each day as another opportunity to accept His new mercies and try to share the reality of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the ONE.


In Him,
Cros