It's Hell Without Jesus

There is good reason to be wary of anyone who claims they will usher in a new world by their policies and ideology.  Like conquerors who built their homes on top of the cities they took and reduced to rubble, it is only a matter of time until the homes atop the tel are knocked down and made a ruin by new occupants.  Victory in battle or the ballot box may be thrilling, yet leadership that heads in a progressive direction--away from God and values that helped establish a country in the first place--precedes a downward spiral.  Those who claim by their leadership can create utopia for all assert the ability to do something only God can do.  God said in Isaiah 65:17 of a glorious future He will usher in:  "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind."

The Bible teaches that when people or nations lose their way and become corrupt and lawless, it is not that they need to head in a new direction:  they need to return to the old good paths God has established and choose to walk in them.  Jeremiah 6:16 reads, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"  One fault of man passed down from the very beginning by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was to follow in Satan's footsteps to desire to be God, to be free to do whatever we will, to speak the word and for it to be fulfilled.  The humanistic and atheistic ambitions to establish a utopian society have never been realised and cannot stand because God--who alone is able to create new heavens and earth and transform man from within into a new creature--has been cut out of the picture.  Mankind is incapable of creating or doing anything new; he is incapable of saving a nation or even himself!  Disregard of our spiritual need for a relationship with the living God leads to ruined minds, bodies, souls and societies.

Many have tried to usher in their ideal age with legislation, and when this falls short they resort to force and control.  When they fail, there is an easy excuse that the status quo was not sufficiently demolished or the foul roots of the previous establishment have undermined a most worthy plan.  Inability to reap the rewards of capitalist, communist or socialist agendas are blamed on the lack of sufficient money, political power, resources or commitment of the common man to prove their ideals sound in reality despite incredible human cost.  The blame often falls on people who become expendable.  The starvation under Mao's Great Leap Forward, the killing fields of Cambodia, propaganda that elevates leaders or the government to godlike status, these are not relics of a distant past:  the implementation of deceptive and authoritarian measures defiant of God and His word continue to this day.  Many aspiring leaders follow Absalom's way of promising justice for all by deceitful and unjust means.  Consider Absalom's approach in 2 Samuel 15:4-6:  "Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice."  ⁵ And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. ⁶ In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel."  Absalom was a murderer, thief, adulterer, deceiver and liar unworthy of honour or rule.  His rebellion did not last long, but the human toll was terrible.

The desire of people to be God shows our need as those created in God's image to humble ourselves and submit to God; our ambition to rule and for our word to stand shows the importance of heeding God's word and take our stand on it.  There is something in utopia that is attractive because it hints at the peace, prosperity and rest that is found in Jesus Christ alone--God who makes us new creations.  People who do not believe in God hope there is a heaven, and this desire to go to heaven comes from God who will create a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells because He sits on the throne.  We are all invited, but people are unwilling to enter in the Door (John 10:7-9) God has swung wide open to us by faith in Christ.  The concept of communal living and all working together for the common benefit hints at the unity people can have by faith in Jesus Christ, united by the Holy Spirit, and loving one another as Jesus loves us.  God's sovereignty, love and grace is conspicuously absent in the ideal world of many people, yet without God man's best efforts result in a hellscape of oppression, control, persecution, poverty, punishment and death.  The world has no idea how the presence of God and the love of Jesus Christ through the church and the wisdom of God's word have worked to protect, preserve and redeem nations to this day:  providing light in darkness, hope for the hopeless and salvation for sinners.

The conception of utopia falls woefully short of the plans God has revealed for all who love and trust Him, eternal life in the presence of our glorious Saviour forever.  Revelation 21:3-5 says, "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  Jesus has overcome pride, sin and death, and He will make all things new forever--and this includes us.  No society on earth has ever boasted freedom from death, eternal damnation, sorrow, crying or pain, but this is the future God has in store for all people who trust in Him.  You can keep your wistful dreams of future utopia, for I have infinitely better in Jesus Christ today and always.