While much of the fear in this world may not be obvious publicly, yet there are distinctive signs and subtle nuances in the behavior of people that betray their inner feelings. Over a year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at a high point, a sampling of people in the United States was asked what their greatest fears were. Some that were mentioned most frequently were civil unrest, the fear of a loved one catching COVID-19, getting seriously ill from some other cause, corrupt government officials, pollution of the environment, cyber terrorism, and economic collapse. More recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic subsiding and the war in the Ukraine assuming serious proportions, the fears have shifted, with many being more concerned now about the possibility of increased shortages of fuel and food, and a World War that may include nuclear weapons. However, along with all this there are seemingly multiple things going on at the same time and a general decline in every sphere of society. A state of fear can trigger outrage, a demand for action, and a disintegration of trust and even civility. We are seeing all of these in the world today, including an increase in things like general incivility, going all the way up to road rage. More than this, here in North America we are seeing an increase in mass shootings, generally by those who are either angry or simply tired of all the inconveniences and annoyances of life. They want to end it all, but take as many as possible with them. The anger within them is “boiling over,” and they are taking it out on anyone and everyone who happens to be available to them.
Lack of Vision
In the past, people in many Western countries have relied on a worldly vision — a vision that included only this world and did not extend beyond that horizon. This kind of vision is typical of Cain’s world — a vision that tries to arrange as much pleasure as possible in a world that is spoiled by sin. However, God is left out in all this, and His claims are forgotten. With some of the most productive economies the world has ever seen, particularly in the United States, the Western world has enjoyed prosperity and “the good life” for many years. This goodness of God has, in turn, induced a sense of complacency into the minds of those born and brought up under this sublime atmosphere. A sense of entitlement, coupled with the feeling that this prosperity will go on indefinitely, has produced a mindset that cannot understand how all this has rather suddenly started to crumble. Some have been able to cope with the changes, while others, unable to manage under the difficulties, have thrown off restraint and resorted to bad behavior of various kinds. This bad behavior may include simply the incivility we have already mentioned and a rather “who cares?” attitude toward responsibility, or it may escalate into immoral conduct and even violence.
A Higher Vision
What is the problem? The problem is that the vision has not been high enough. A vision that is limited to the horizons of this world will never be able to sustain the storms of life. That kind of vision may work in “fair weather,” but it will never stand up in a tempest, and it will never stand up in death. The natural man at his best thinks of “making this world a better place” and perhaps of leaving a legacy of good that will guarantee that his name will be remembered. But a view that is centered only on this world is not enough.
The kind of vision spoken of in the Word of God is a vision founded on the Lord Himself — a vision that looks on to eternity, and not merely at our time in this world. Man was created for eternity, not for time, and his art, music and poetry are basically a lament for the loss of something that is eternal. When I attended university, one of the professors of philosophy (a subject I did not study) apparently remarked once in a lecture that if there were a God, why did He create a world where everything eventually had to die? The only answer is found in God’s Word, for God did not create such a world. “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). That professor had no vision, for he rejected not only the Bible, but the existence of God Himself. Yet man cannot get away from his makeup, for he longs for that which is eternal. The difficulty with fallen man is that to embrace an eternal view of things necessarily involves the recognition of God’s claims over him, and this he does not want.
The Antidote
The antidote to the fear present in this world is a vision of eternity and the promise of a life beyond this world. Man may reject that thought, but deep down, each one knows that he or she has been created, not only for time, but for eternity. Each one knows that he or she must meet God someday and answer to Him. As another has said, the conscience of man never goes atheistic.
We who belong to Christ ought to pray that all the sad events today and the general deterioration of the “good life” to which we have become accustomed will draw souls to Christ and cause them to think seriously about what lies beyond this life. Instead of bringing about the casting off of restraint, such developments ought to produce a solemn reverence for the God who has allowed them, for God never brings down judgment on man without giving a warning. We are seeing those warnings today, and our prayer ought to be that they will be heeded.
W. J. Prost