Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

THE GLORIOUS HOPE During the Cold War, a famed scientist remarked, "The United States has 100,000 atomic weapons while Russia has 50,000. Yet, only four thousand such weapons can destroy the entire human race." Another scientist said, "I am not optimistic that the human race will survive another ten years." Bertrand Russell once bitterly said, "I wouldn't give a 50-50 chance that one person will be alive on this planet forty years from now." Winds of despair often blow across our dying planet until we all live in an uneasy tension. We wonder what shattering blow will hit us next. Terrorism, pollution, and violence permeate our daily lives. Man without God has absolutely no reason to hope. Without question, our scientific accomplishments have outstripped our moral strength. We recklessly rattle rockets and threaten ourselves with total extinction. Pitted against the blackness of the hour, however, is the promise of centuries ago: "I will return." Christ promised to return to our world and bring order out of chaos, joy out of despair. This is the glorious hope of the believer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come." What a remarkable petition this is. When Christ's Kingdom comes, there will be no more war and hatred. Babies will not die of starvation and neglect. When Christ comes, human suffering will cease. No wonder the believer should daily pray, "Thy kingdom come." The true believer longs for his Lord's return.