There are lots of problems in this world and more knowledge is not going to fix them. If knowledge were the answer then the world would now be perfect since knowledge has multiplied countless times in just the past 200 year. 

So why the problems and how can we fix them? 

The problems exist because we’ve inherited a broken and dying world.  Although we have more gadgets than ever before, I’ve never met anyone who actually thinks the world is getting better. 

Not even wealth appears to be the solution to our dilemma, especially when we consider the suicides of two prominent international celebrities this past fortnight.  I’m speaking about Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade. 

On the surface of it, their lives appeared perfect. They had everything a person could ever want, fortune and fame included.  But by day’s end, there was something seriously missing in both lives. 

Although the answer to our problems is a relationship with the Christian God, not many people want to embrace the creator or manufacturer’s solution. Consequently, we try anything and everything else.

If, as the Bible asserts, we all must be saved, the question pops up, “what are we being saved from?”

And the answer is, “our problems”.

And without Jesus as our friend, our problems won’t end at death. The Bible warns, there remains a hell; and prior to Christ’s victory on the cross, we were all destined to go there. 

But now the hope of mankind is that there is a way of escape, and our only rescuer just happens to be Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If we die and find ourselves in hell, it won’t be because of our sinful nature, it’ll be because we’ve rejected the one who God sent to save us. His desire is to separate us from the presence of sin forever so that by embracing Christ, our inner longings can be fulfilled.

The way we reject Jesus is by refusing to put our faith in Him….. “faith being, a daily and ongoing expression of one’s belief in - and a deep appreciation for, the saviour, our rescuer, the one who just happens to love us and desires to lavish us with the riches of an eternal reward”.

Q:  How could anyone ever say no to such a gracious gift?

The problem with the world is not a lack of knowledge or wealth, our problem is the presence of sin. It’s not that we can’t believe in Jesus Christ; it’s just that as “slaves to sin”, sin dictates the terms, refusing to believe in Jesus, fearing such a belief will somehow ruin our lifestyles.

Surely the knowledge of hell is a great motivator to seek out a saviour? I know for certain, the knowledge of a big strap hanging in the kitchen when I was a kid was a great motivator for me not to get into too much trouble.

Heaven is real, friends, but so is hell. Why not look to the saviour to see your problems conquered?

Jim Seymour, pastor, www.tp4c.org.au