What do you usually see when you flip open your newspaper or when you navigate to your online news website? Most likely you will see some headlines which mention something unpleasant. The following current affairs (circa Oct 2024) may dominate that day's headlines.
Wars and Unrest
Two wars are currently taking place in the world. Russia is attacking Ukraine while a regional war between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran is taking place. Many military personnel and civilians were killed. Closer to Singapore, there is North Korea flexing its nuclear weapons muscle, China vowing to reunify with Taiwan and the coup d'état in Myanmar.
Pandemics and Diseases
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many deaths and caused severe social and economic disruption throughout the world. As countries recover from COVID-19, health experts say the next pandemic can happen soon. Additionally, drug-resistant bacteria is becoming a significant health threat within this century.
Climate Change
The temperature of the Earth is rising at an alarming rate due to heat trapping greenhouse gases emitted from burning of fossil fuels. As glaciers and ice caps melt, sea levels will rise resulting in island nations like Tuvalu and the Maldives disappearing. Extreme weather and clear air turbulence will become more frequent.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Machine learning (a subset of AI) learns from data sets to, for example, recommend related products, filter spam email and indicate cancerous cells. AI has now grown very advanced, with ChatGPT able to generate human-like responses to questions. But AI is a Pandora's box, creating many issues like deepfake, job displacement, plagiarism and social manipulation.
These current affairs cause negative emotions within your mind, for example anger, sadness, gloominess or even hopelessness. You ask: who can I turn to in these uncertain, anxious inducing times? I made up my mind: I will turn to God and use His teachings as a guide as I navigate through these days. I consider the following:
God Does Not Change
God declared that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). As God is not a whimsical person prone to unpredictable changes or behaviours, He will not lie nor repent (Numbers 23:19). With God, there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). Despite all the changes happening throughout the world, whether good or bad, God is the same through all His years of eternity (Psalm 102:27). Even God's Son, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
God's Word Does Not Change
Since God does not change, His Word also does not change. Although the grass withers and the flower fades, the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). God's Word stands firm forever in heaven (Psalm 119:89). God's Word is immutable, nobody can add things to it nor subtract things from it without divine consequences (cf. Revelation 22:18-19). Christians have the assurance from God that His Word is the standard to live up to (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105).
Christ Has Overcome The World
Before His capture, Jesus comforted His disciples and told them that He had overcome the world (John 16:33). What did Jesus endure while on Earth? He endured Satan's temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He endured the Jews' disbelief that He was the Messiah (Matthew 23:37). He endured the cross to take away the sins of all men (John 1:29)! With faith, Christians too can overcome the world despite its many challenges (1 John 5:4).
Christ Will Be With Us Always
Jesus promised Christians that He will be with them always till the end of time (cf. Matthew 28:20). Paul wrote that if God is on Christians' side, who can be against Christians (Romans 8:31)? God will never leave nor forsake His people so they may boldly say: "The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Conclusion
Despite all the negative circumstances in the world, I, who wear Christ's name, have the assurance that God is with me. Faithfully following His standard, which will never change, I can overcome the world.
Ask Yourself:
What standard should I follow to overcome the world?
Besides the four world issues listed above, what other problems can Christians face today?
Despite the four assurances listed above, why do some Christians still choose to leave God?
Suggested Answers:
God’s Word
You may discuss this with your bible class teacher.
You may discuss this with your bible class teacher.