We live in a world that is broken. We all know it. We feel the effects of this brokenness all the time. On the personal level this brokenness manifests as addiction, severed and strained relationships, illness (mental and physical), self-destructive behavior, etc. In the world around us, this brokenness appears as abuse, war, injustice, failed leadership, etc. This broken and breaking world is an ever present reminder that things are not as they should be.
But what is the cause of this brokenness? We all see it, but why is it there? This is not just an abstract notion; how we understand the problem directly impacts the solutions we offer to solve it.
In our world today, various explanations are extended as to why the brokenness exists:
- “The Devil made me do it.” While these words may not always be uttered, they are certainly implied in explanations that talk of the darkness of this age (directed by the prince of darkness). This notion has biblical roots, as Satan really is roaring about like a lion looking for prey.
- “The System is broken.” In today’s day and age, systemic causes are often cited to explain broken realities. Unjust laws or widespread cultural missteps create problems downstream both now and in the future. This explanation also has biblical roots, as the world system (personified as the “prostitute Babylon” in Revelation 17-19) is a counterfeit system that ultimately hurts (not helps) you and me.
- “Our Leaders are crooked.” We often want to attach the problems of this world to our human leaders … the country would be better off with a different President or congress, the state would be better off with a different Governor, our company would be better off with a different CEO, our church would be better off with a different Pastor, etc. This idea also has biblical roots as the directions leaders set do have real world consequences for the residents of their “kingdoms.”
These are some of the working theories for the brokenness of our world. But do they explain ALL of what we see … or is there something else at play?
What if there was a time in history when Satan was in jail, and unable to tempt people … and what if in that same timeframe, the world’s laws and systems were completely just and right … and what if in that same timeframe, the world was led by a Perfect leader? What would happen then?
Well, believe it or not, Revelation 20:1-10 describes this EXACT TIME. It looks ahead to the world right after Jesus comes back and runs the clock forward 1,000 years. What is the world like without Satan, with perfect laws and systems, and led by the PERFECT Son of God, Jesus Christ, and a supernatural/sanctified set of undershepherds. In THAT world, will the people living in it experience Edenic bliss? Will sin still have any sway?
This passage has a lot to say about this … so come Sunday morning as we dive in to see what happens after Jesus returns, and what it says about the sources of the brokenness we all experience (so we can look to the right solutions). See you Sunday at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 at Wildwood Community Church as we are in part 3 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series. Come … and bring friends!