Doomsday scenarios abound. The possibilities of disaster are all around us. There could be a nuclear holocaust, a new infectious disease, a super volcanic eruption, more climate change, an asteroid that wipes out humanity, or machines that take the place of men. Meanwhile, mankind seems to be descending into political extremism and religious intolerance while the global economy teeters on chaos, and millions die of hunger.
Fifty countries were engulfed in World War II, resulting in an estimated 85 million military and civilian deaths. Adolph Hitler boasted the German Republic would rule for 3,000 years. At the time the future looked very bad; Europe was in despair while the Jewish people were being systematically exterminated.
Harper’s Magazine stated in the October 10, 1857 issue, “It is a gloomy moment in history. Not for many years has there been so much grave and deep apprehension, and never has the future seemed so dark.”
William Wilberforce wrote in 1790, “I dare not marry; the future is so dark and unsettled.” His friend William Pitt wrote in 1800, “There is scarcely anything around us but ruin and despair.”
One of the oldest writings from ancient Babylon thousands of years ago read, “To whom can I speak today? There are no righteous men. The earth is surrounded by criminals.”
Hang on to hope, the hope of God. King David wrote, “Why am I so discouraged? Why am I so sad? I will put my hope in God!” (Psalm 42:5)
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “I pray that God, the source of all hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Hang on to hope—hang on to God.