“We Can’t Fix The World”

Sometimes I tend to fixate on solving all the world’s problems. I spend time thinking about how I’m going to settle the war in Ukraine and the “crazy developments” in the Middle East, and of course China, oh let’s not forget the increasing chaos in our own country, not to mention the church. And I just read that the average life expectancy for men  is 73 years. “Wow, I don’t have much time left to fix everything…. in fact I’m on borrowed time. 

I recently saw a photo of President Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev of Russia as they were knee-deep in a nuclear standoff in the final days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. They fortunately negotiated a settlement rather than begin WWIII. At the time, they may have been the most powerful men in the world. (after the pope— St. Paul VI) 

So Dave this is a lot of diverse information …… where are we going with this BLOG today? Okay, listen up and pay close attention. I’m looking to draw all this together with some compelling conclusions. Ready?:

• Okay …… if you divide 2023 by 73 you get ~28…… ~28 generations have lived between the time of Christ and today. 
• Each of these 28 generations probably thought that everything depended on them. How can the world continue to exist without me?
• Of these 28 generations, some clearly made great and wonderful contributions to the world…perhaps solving big problems, inventing great things, while others were awful and did terrible things…. saints & sinners, e.g. Mother Teresa & Idi Amin.
• It’s been 78 years (August 1945) since the two atomic bombs were exploded on Japan. For most of the 78 years, 9 countries have possessed nuclear weapons….. the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea. 

Okay are things coming together for you ? Do you see where I’m going with this BLOG? To be honest, I’ve gone down several “rabbit holes” since I’ve started and I’m not sure of the point I’m trying to make. Hmmmmmmm….let’s see,…… okay…ready… here it is ….

The idea that you or I can fix the world is more than ludicrous. The only one keeping this world from blowing up is God. It’s his world. Have you ever wondered how for 78 years some general chugging Vodka in Moscow, some dope head in Pakistan, or some soldier downing Budweisers in Idaho hasn’t intentionally or accidently pushed the wrong button and blown up the world. “But Dave, we’ve got very tight controls on all of this…there’s no way that could happen….” Really ????

I do believe that we each have our role to love and serve the Lord and pray for our poor world. We can make differences within our corner of the vineyard that God has placed us. We can proclaim the great truth that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) We can and must proclaim that Jesus is Lord. Yet in the biggest of pictures, God is in charge. It’s his world. He is the one that has kept us from destroying his world. And one day he will come again.

So in the meantime, let’s be at peace. Let’s do our part…the part the Lord has given each of us. And may he find us at work when he does return. All will be well because we serve a great and loving God. And that is very good news.