{"id":4473,"date":"2018-09-28T21:35:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-29T01:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?p=4473"},"modified":"2026-05-30T14:30:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T18:30:28","slug":"in-a-wicked-world-you-have-to-have-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/in-a-wicked-world-you-have-to-have-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"In a Wicked World, You Have to Have Hope (87)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In a Wicked World, You Have to Have Hope<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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By Steven J. Hogan<\/p>

~ A Saturday Morning Post #87 ~<\/em><\/p>


No matter what country you live in, there\u2019s sin and evil, liars and thieves, hate and racism, and corrupt politicians. That\u2019s the way it has been for this entire evil age, and the way it\u2019s going to be, right up until the return of Jesus Christ. That\u2019s why you need hope,<\/a> why you need to be \u201clooking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God\u201d<\/em> (Hebrews 11:10), and for that time when \u201cthe Lord will be King over all the earth.\u201d<\/em> Zechariah 14:9

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But for now, we look around the world and we see sin<\/a> and Satan in every place \u2013 in Russia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, North Korea, Haiti, China, and in every country and, yes, in the United States. What\u2019s this world coming to? Is not your soul grieved by the sin that affects every square inch of this planet, and yes, still remains in your own life? I have to admit, I get tired of it, for this evil flesh and wicked world weigh heavy on my soul. I think of Lot, who was \u201coppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0and who \u201cfelt his righteous soul tormented day after day\u201d<\/em> (2 Peter 2:7-9). What are we to think? What are we to do about it? What does God\u2019s Word say?

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1. God is sovereign.<\/strong> Yes, \u201cthe whole world lies in the power of the evil one\u201d<\/em> (1 John 5:19), but God is ultimately in charge, in control. Don\u2019t forget, the devil<\/a> is like a dog on a leash, and he can only do what God allows him to do. Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:17
2. God leaves you in this sinful world to teach you to be holy<\/strong>, to \u201clet your light shine before men\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 5:16). He is also teaching you to be a soldier, a warrior, to stand firm against the devil\u2019s schemes, to fight \u201cagainst the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness.\u201d<\/em> Judges 3:2, Nehemiah 4, Ephesians 6:10-18
3. Don\u2019t focus on the evil things<\/strong> going on around you, whether it\u2019s in your family, your city, or the world. You are going to get very discouraged if you keep thinking about the corruption that\u2019s out there. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
4. Focus on the work you are to do.<\/strong> When you play sports, you don\u2019t stare at your opponent, you play your position and do your part. God has given you a job to do, so do it. And when your work<\/a> is done, Christ will take you home to heaven. Luke 19:13, Acts 13:36
5. Don\u2019t put your hope in this world, or in people<\/strong>, and that means leaders, too. A prime minister, a president, or a king, isn\u2019t God. I hope you know by now that you can’t trust human leaders to make this world a truly better place. Trust in God, not in man. Psalm 146:3-5
6. As a Christian, your goal should never be a political objective, but a spiritual objective.<\/strong> It\u2019s not to win elections, to get your person in power, but to win souls,<\/a> to preach the gospel to all the nations. Our gospel is the only real answer, and it has no borders and no bounds, \u201cFor God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d<\/em> John 3:16
7. Pray \u201cThy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (Matthew 6:10). Pray for Christ to return, to begin His righteous reign over the world, and to establish His glorious kingdom on earth. Habakkuk 2:14, Revelation 11:15

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Don\u2019t you get tired of your sin-prone flesh and this sinful, saint-hating world? Don\u2019t you wish you could leave it? I know I do, but I have to remind myself that this is my time,<\/a> my one opportunity on this earth, to be a worker and a warrior for the Lord. Just think, God has planned out your entire life, placing you on this planet at this time in history. It\u2019s by the grace He gives you now, and the hope of future grace that you can live for the Lord.\u00a0Think about this hope you have, that Christ is coming, that you will be raptured and glorified, that Satan will be defeated, and that the kingdom age will begin. \u201cGod be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us \u2013 that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.\u201d <\/em>Psalm 67:1-2

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One of the main ways I am motivated to live for God during this present evil age is thinking about the future kingdom of Christ.<\/a> It will be a good age, a great age, a glorious age, when God will brighten up and beautify this old earth, when there will be true justice, love, mercy, peace on earth, and good will toward men. I encourage you to think about being in your glorified body, living on this newly renovated planet, fellow-shipping with dear friends, and serving Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King. This is the truth, this is your hope, and it is this hope that will help you to live strong for the Lord during your short time on earth. Soon you will be gone from here, and after a short stay in heaven, you will head back to earth, where you will serve and reign with Christ your King for 1000 glorious years (Revelation 20:6). \u201cLet the peoples praise You, O God\u2026 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.\u201d<\/em> Psalm 67:3-4

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P.S. We must know the Bible says will be taking place on this earth. I encourage you to read my posts on the present Ukraine situation – “Russia at War Against Ukraine”<\/em><\/a>, “God, You, and the War in Ukraine<\/a>“<\/em>, “Death and Life in the End-Times”<\/em><\/a>. And read this article on hope – “You Have to Have Hope.”<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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