One of England’s distinguished statesmen, Sir Fred Catherwood, offers an insightful analysis of the world. He writes, “We look back today because we dare not look forward. We live in a violent, greedy, rootless, cynical, and hopeless society, and we don’t know what’s to become of it all. . . . As we stop believing in the dignity of man and woman made in the image of God, violence has risen dramatically. . . . The social pillars of society have been shaken. All down [through] the centuries, governments have had moral guidelines to tell them how to shape the social structures. Now . . . they do not know what to do.”

We can take heart, however, that the Bible, as it discloses the divine plan for history’s outworking, does not abandon us to pessimism. It holds out the possibility of heaven-sent revival and social renewal in the short term. And of course it assures us that ultimately, when Jesus returns, the kingdoms of this world will become His kingdom and the kingdom of His Father (Rev. 11:15).

Our responsibility is to be salt and light in the world (Mt. 5:13-16). We are to live, work, worship, pray, and witness so that today and tomorrow our world will see the saving grace of God at work in and through us.