A Christian Perspective on the FUTURE

All of us have a worldview (how we understand reality and the ultimate questions in life) and this worldview shapes how we consider the future of humanity. I am a Christian and that deeply shapes how I think about the future.

On the one hand, I don’t have a cheery optimism about where humanity is headed on its own. I believe we have what is known as a “fallen” nature—our hearts are corrupt and bent toward selfishness and sin (Rom 3:23). This doesn’t mean we are as bad as we could be, but it does mean that things are deeply broken at the core of who we are—we are rebels against God and have rejected Him, His existence, His law and good design for us. This rebellion against God shows itself in a refusal to do what Jesus summarized as God’s law: 1. Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; 2. Love our neighbor as ourselves. Because we refuse these, we have the mess that is with us today—a mess we all experience in our hearts and lives and see in the world around us.

On the other hand, I believe God has acted powerfully in history to bring about great good and hope for humanity in the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (truly God and truly human). He came to save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21) and proclaims a better way and a better kingdom that lasts. He taught us how to live and then he laid down his life in love for us by dying on a cross to pay for our sins (Matt 20:28). He died and rose again and shows a path forward beyond sin and death, a path of knowing and loving God and loving our neighbors. God is in control even now over all things, and overrules even sinful and evil events to bring about good for His people (Gen 50:20; Romans 8:28). We can trust Him with how history will turn out while we work for the good of our fellow man, pray, preach the gospel, and do good works for the glory of God.

I’m also shaped by the belief that particular events, spoken of in the Bible, will one day take place. As a Christian, I believe these will literally happen at some point in the future:
-Jesus will physically return to Earth (Matt 24:29-31, 37; Acts 1:11)
-When Jesus returns, he will defeat his enemies and deliver God’s people (2 Thess 1:8)
-Jesus will judge the nations (Matt 25:31-46)
-All people will be resurrected from the dead (Daniel 12:2; 1 Cor 15:22; Phil 3:20)
-Some people (all who have not been reconciled to God) will experience “eternal destruction” in hell (Matt 25:46; Revelation 21:8)
-Christians will experience eternal life on the New Earth (Rev 21-22)