What Is This World Coming To?

“Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

‘Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.’

“He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

‘As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.’

“I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him” [1]

“The more things change, the more they remain the same,” states an old saw that each of us has heard. Undoubtedly at times we are each dazed by the change we witness taking place about us. This is especially true for those of us who follow the Saviour. The song writer pleaded,

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me. [2]

We say we are unable to keep pace with our changing world; however, that can’t be true. Some things never change. The mercies of the Lord never change. Jeremiah testified,

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end.”

[LAMENTATIONS 3:22]

God does not change! James, the brother of our Lord, encourages us when he writes, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” [JAMES 1:17]. These words are in keeping with the Lord’s testimony through the ancient prophet, Malachi: “I the LORD do not change” [MALACHI 3:6a].

And just as the Lord does not change, so sin never changes. Sin is still sinful, bringing death and ensuring ruin of all it touches. Wickedness is still set in opposition to righteousness. And at the last, all sin must be judged by the Righteous Judge Who does not change. Those who are sinful, those who are still bound by their own sinful condition, must know that they shall give an account to the Judge of all the earth.

So, what will happen in the earth? What is this world coming to? I don’t profess to be able to foresee the future—I would never presume to promote myself as a prognosticator. I can, however, read the Word of God, that Word which warns mankind against presuming against God Who is righteous. Because I read the warning that the Lord has given, I am compelled to warn those who hear me. I know that the Lord “commands all people everywhere to repent because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He has appointed” [ACTS 17:30b-31a].

The prospects for this world are actually dismal. Though the Lord created a perfect world, sin entered into the world, despoiling God’s perfect creation. Death was introduced through the sin of our first parents, and death has ruled over this world ever since. People imagine that we will move toward ever greater perfection, but we know in our hearts that despite all the technological advances we have witnessed, the statistics on death remain pretty amazing—one out of one die.

Decay and ruin are assured for every gleaming tower erected in our great cities. The shiny new automobile purchased this year will wear out and in but a few years be consigned to the junkyard. The fine house we built will require constant maintenance until one day it can be repaired no longer. Then, it will be torn down and replaced with something else. The latest fashions with which we dress ourselves will be shortly superseded, necessitating a new wardrobe if we are to keep up with the latest fashion. The kitchen appliances we thought we had to have will wear out and require replacement far sooner than we imagined. Some things really don’t change all that much.

Long years ago the Psalmist told us clearly the way things would go in the earth. The picture David presented is not particularly appealing to any who are living for this dying world, but his assessment is tragically accurate. Rebellion against the Living God will continue, growing more pronounced, as the world moves inexorably toward a final end. God patiently waits in the heavens until it is time for Him to act. Then, at a time of His own choosing, He will act, bringing an end to the rebellion and the final destruction of a world that has become utterly corrupt.