Why are people so filled with hate?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: Why are people so filled with hate? It seems they are not just angry, they are filled with rage. It seems such behavior is escalating faster by the day. There seems to be more poverty, racial conflict and physical and mental illnesses than I can remember in my younger years. It is even scary to go to church these days for fear that there will be a madman who will storm through the doors in violence. Is the world getting worse? -- D.O.
A: To many observers this certainly seems to be the case. Wars have raged around the world from the beginning of time. But part of this could be due to a 24-hour news cycle, something that hit in the last part of the 20th century with cable news and the internet. People are forever hearing about bad news. But the Bible says that in the final days before Jesus returns to this earth there will be "terrible times." Jesus declared that we will hear of wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6). More than any other time in history more Christians are martyred for their faith.
Our world is filled with conflict, turmoil and insecurity. Jesus said the basic problem is in our hearts -- and the reason is because we are alienated from our Creator. Instead of giving God His rightful place at the center of our lives, we have substituted the gods of this world that claim to satisfy mankind's longings. But only Christ can change our hearts.
Does this mean that we can never make any progress against the massive problems that assail society -- poverty, war, injustice, famine, sickness, disease? No, of course not; God wants us to fight evil wherever it is found. But our greatest need is for repentance and spiritual renewal.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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