What Is Wrong With The World?

What Is Wrong With The World?

Good Morning Friends,

What do you want? If you are like most people you want the power to achieve and win. You want love and belonging. You want a sense of autonomy and pleasure and, of course, you want to survive. But what are you doing to get what you want? Is it working? Probably not. And you probably are not emphasizing the power of doing what is in your control to do. You see, the past may define what you want but it is the present and the future that gets you there. And the reality is that the only person you can control on the journey is you. And the only focus that counts is one of the moment combined with one of hope. So in today’s scripture we learn that if we want to live well we have to work are being good but we also must work at being wise. It is woven in with the scripture from Romans about original sin. So on this the first day of fall I offer the same elegant answer to the question of the day that was offered by Gilbert Keith Chesterton. His answer to today’s question was two words: “I am.”  Still a more extensive study is worth some time, so we ask anyway. What Is Wrong With The World? 

Scripture: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12-5:19 (NRSV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

James 3: 13-18 (NRSV)

Message: When you become a peacemaker you come close to the heart of God. Your words and actions reflect the truth and the need with kindness. You become more righteous as you help others become right with God. You put away your ego and selfish ambitions and help others to do the same. But there is a problem, our hearts lie to us. Our hearts are fanciful and deceitful and more often than not desperately sick. The sin of the world generates multiple and serious consequences in all areas of our lives. Consequently, fear, shame, hate, violence, and death entered the world. Humans are profoundly divided within themselves. Sin has corrupted our human personality. It is so sad but sin has perverted our human relationships. They are more often than not in conflict or sick. Married and family lives are maladjusted and dysfunctional and their wounds last a lifetime. People are unable to love in a healthy and constructive way. We cannot express love. Aggressiveness is manifested in words and actions. Relationships turn deceitful, selfish, and possessive There are addictions and codependency, distrust and loneliness. Humans are a bit of a mess. You see sin is a powerful thing and our thoughts, attitudes of heart and actions are very capable of destroying our lives.  And friends, this is painful. Really painful. The result of this sin is a separation from God. And that leads to death. And what is worse is that we seek pointless and futile solutions to the problems. All of mankind does this so people learn in the wrong way. Whatever else is true of humans, we are not as we were meant to be. Chesterton’s remark reflects our own experiences. We seem to have all the ingredients for happiness. But the power of evil within us and outside us seems to triumph. Thankfully Jesus formed a relationship for us to overcome the evil of the world. Yes friends, there is a big problem with the world and I could write about the problems until Jesus returns but thankfully I do not have to. The Incarnation of the Son of God unites earth to heaven and solves the problem if we would but believe. Dear friends, sin makes us feel worthless and defeated. Forgiveness restores our sense of worth. Sin gives a burden of guilt. Forgiveness restores our innocence. Sin causes fear, grief, and hopelessness. Forgiveness gives peace, joy and hope. Sin is a barrier between loved ones. Forgiveness reunites loved ones. Sin leads to punishment. Forgiveness leads to eternal life. God cares about us so much that what was wrong can be made right. So let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let us have fun with the life we have been given. Let us have a joy that turns the world upsidedown.

Pray just pray. Pray long and hard and never stop. Pray that the imagination of our hearts not be evil. Pray we have wise hearts. Pray we become peacemakers, facing and dealing honestly with what is wrong. Pray God’s will is in our lives, shining through our lives, and spilling over into the lives of others so as to produce good fruits. Pray until peace overflows from our very being. Pray we submit to being reformed by God in community and church. Pray we confess the truth with love as we develop the skill of being makers of peace. Pray we not try to claim it or control it but to give it away. Pray for peace until Jesus comes back to rule every heart with goodness and wisdom. Pray we realize that what is wrong with us and the world can only be made right by a focus on God. Pray we have fun on the journey.

Blessings,

John Lawson