Who really cares ?

Do we really care about the state of the world ? In these days of immediate and mass communications,  we know instantly about the latest evil in the world. We are bombarded hourly with information and comment about what is going wrong, where.

So to preserve our own sanity we must switch off just to stop being overwhelmed by all the bad news.

What is worse, governments appear powerless to help – except when it suits their agenda! Politicians wring their hands and say how bad the ruling party is, and how much better life would be if they were in power. They would soon put it all right.

But when they do get their hands on power, nothing really changes. They may tinker with this and that, but at the end of the day the crime rate does not fall and the serious social problems are all still there.

Politicians as a breed are too concerned with their own image and career to do what the situation actually demands.

So we are left feeling powerless in the face of all that is so wrong in the world.

But there is one who cares.

At the close of the 10th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we read:-

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples,

“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

These few short words tell us all we need to know about true help.

And it starts with GOD’S COMPASSION.

Human compassion is limited. It can go so far, but very quickly it is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems. For most people, anyway.

But God has unlimited compassion and concern for the state of people in this world.

How so, you may ask. If he is God, he can put it right any time he likes.

Well he can. And that would meaning coming in final Judgement to destroy all evil and human evil doers forever.

But surely he could come and help now ? – you may ask.

Well he does. But people must realise their need. And what is more, they must realise that God helps on his terms, not theirs.

His purpose is to save us from the root of the problem: our own individual sin. It is the sum of individual sin which makes up the terrible state of the world. People are suffering and exploited because others don’t take their responsibilities seriously. And many people suffer because they don’t take responsibility for themselves.

But people don’t  realise this because the powers that be in politics, economy and in media tell them incessantly that they should live for themselves. This material and visible world is all that counts. So enjoy yourself, do as you want, and have a good time.

That of course is a recipe for personal and communal disaster.

So we need to hear a different message – a contrary message.  One that tells us the truth. The truth about who we are, where we are, and where we are going.

We are sinners, all of us. The state of the world is evidence enough of that !

And the answer is to acknowledge our sin to God; to ask his forgiveness in Jesus Christ; and to ask him to help us to live as he knows best.

Each of us.

You see the answer starts with you and it starts with me, individually. Forget the government, the system the economy. If we were all living as we should, the world would be transformed.

But we cannot do this of ourselves – only God can do it in us, with us, and for us. So we must ask for his help. And we will only do that if we realise that GOD alone has the power to help, and that we are part of the problem, not the solution.

God has the solution.

God is the solution.

That’s why we must pray that God will send those who know him, his love and his grace to help those who are lost and in need of help and direction.

People are lost, like sheep without a shepherd. They do not hear what they need to hear. And they need to hear  that they must come to God and work with God for his perfect purpose, not their own foolish selfishness.

Without God’s wisdom in our lives, we are lost. We are subject to all the foolish and selfish instincts in our own hearts;  and we are subject to the foolish and selfish influences in the world about us.

We remain part of the problem, instead of becoming part of the solution.

Those who are part of the solution know that God alone has the wisdom and power to put our lives right. They know that God is their very present help in time of trouble; that his teaching causes us to live with compassion and respect for others, and not just for ourselves.

They have given their lives to serve God, and so serve others.

Those who sincerely come to God and who sincerely serve God, do so in accordance with the teaching we find in the New Testament.

And that always points us to Christ and to Christ’s teaching.

He alone has the wealth of compassion and real spiritual power to really help us.

Jesus alone is The Good Shepherd.

Jesus Christ alone is God; he alone is always there.

But remember. God must send and God must be asked to send. It is not what men want or what men think is a good idea, but what God wants. Because when God sends someone they go with his power and his backing. They go to open the way for God. They go with God’s power and for God’s glory – not for their own.

Hallelujah !

Christian Preacher