The Last Best Hope of Earth

I mentioned in my last blog that Abraham Lincoln called the United States the “last best hope of earth.” I admire Lincoln and I find inspiration in his words to be a good citizen. But the last best hope of earth will not to be realized by any government we form, but by the world wide kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish at his return.

The second coming of Christ is as certain as the Word of God is true. At his ascension into heaven two angels said to the disciples “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).” At the second coming of Christ God’s people will receive everlasting life and glory and the ungodly and wicked will perish, forever.

Christ’s second coming is mentioned more frequently in the Old Testament than his first coming at his birth. For example, Psalm 96:13 says that Jesus comes to judge the earth. Psalm 2 declares that he will inherit every nation of the earth. The prophet Daniel saw that Christ was “given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14).” The New Testament calls Christ’s return our “blessed hope (Titus 2:13)” and it is: the last best hope of earth.

When Christ rules as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the hopes of humanity will be fully realized. There will be no more war (Isaiah 2:4), there will be peace without end (Isaiah9:6), there will be no more sickness (Isaiah 35:5,6), the voice of weeping will be heard no more (Isaiah 65:17-19, the desert will blossom like a rose (Isaiah 35:1, 2, 6, 7), the world will again become like the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:33-35), the earth and believing humanity will be redeemed and delivered from death and corruption (Romans 8:18-23).

How can you participate in this new world order? The answer is simple; you enter the kingdom by voting yourself in. Jesus Christ said that the only way to see this kingdom is to be saved, to be born again of God’s Spirit. And this new birth occurs the very moment that you believe one of the greatest promises in Scripture. In John 3:16, 17 Jesus Christ said “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Believing this promise with all your heart gets you into the kingdom.

A renewed earth will be the everlasting home of God’s redeemed people. This planet, the scene of paradise lost, is destined to be the scene of paradise restored. This earth shall be filled “with the glory of the Lord (Numbers 14:21).” If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to seek salvation by faith in Christ. If you are in the Chicago area come join us on Sunday mornings as we worship God and learn His Word. We meet at 10:30 AM at the Gorton Community Center, 400 East Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL. You can also listen to and study the various biblical teachings we have at our web site (www.graceministryinternational.org).