What Has Happened to Our World?

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge …” Hosea 4:6

“What has happened to our world?” Stunned, I dropped into a chair in my husband’s office. The message on my phone screen announced that Charlie Kirk had been shot. Tears welled in my eyes, and my heart pounded as I turned on the television.

Sadly, we live in a time when such things are not uncommon. Yet, I long for the country to be at peace, even though it seems that won’t happen soon. No one listens to the opinions of others. People don’t share ideas. They call each other horrible names, lash out in hate, and try to destroy each other by whatever means available.

As Christians, we have the answer to all the world’s hate and problems in the love of Jesus.

What Has Happened to Our World?

During the life of the prophet Hosea, Israel experienced similar strife and unrest. The prophecies he was given for the people were not popular. Though his method was different, Hosea declared God’s message to both political and religious leaders, as well as to the common man. In some ways, he was not that different from Charlie Kirk.

God’s message to Hosea provides insight into the events that have transpired in our world. In Hosea 4:1-2, God explained that He had “a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.” He tells them that “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land … there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” Sounds familiar.

Why Did This Happen?

The people of Israel forgot their covenant with God. In Leviticus, God gave Moses detailed instructions on how His chosen people were to live. He explained the blessings for obedience and the curses and punishments for disobedience. In Leviticus 26:12-13, God says, “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. ¹³ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”

However, the Israelites forgot. They befriended, married, and lived just like the pagan people around them, the people God commanded them to destroy when He brought them into the Promised Land. Scripture teaches that when people forget God and embrace the world, dire consequences result.

America has forgotten God. We live more like the people who don’t know Him at all—who have no hope.

What Have We Forgotten?

In Galatians 4:3, Paul reminded believers that they were once enslaved to the “elementary principles of the world.” He writes of the change that came with Jesus Christ. The people who were “under the law,” enslaved to sin, received freedom and adoption as sons. “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7)

Why would an adopted son, raised from bondage to a place of freedom and blessing, return to slavery? Paul asks the same question: “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?” (Galatians 4:8-9)

Many have forgotten, and too many have never heard, that God’s Son came to save us from a bondage to sin that leads to death. In sharing his ideas on politics and his faith in God, Charlie Kirk brought this message to his audiences.

A Man Like Stephen

In Acts 6 and 7, we read of a young man named Stephen who was chosen to help distribute food to the new believers when they met for meals. In Acts 6:8-10, Paul writes, “Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen … rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

These men disagreed with Stephen’s message. They stirred up anger against him and accused him of blasphemy. When the entire council was outraged, they brought Stephen before them, reporting that he said, “Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” (Acts 6:14) That was absolute truth, but they lacked understanding. Jesus did change everything. Yet, when they allowed Stephen to testify, they didn’t want to listen to or try to understand. He accused them of murdering God’s Righteous One, and said, “You who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (Acts 7:53)

What Has Happened to Our World When Those Who Speak the Truth Are Killed?

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), but they killed Him. Stephen was stoned for speaking the truth about Jesus Christ. As he died, he forgave them for what they were doing. It is certain that, given the chance, Charlie Kirk would have done the same.

Our world has lost its way. Hedonism rules. No one is allowed to disagree with those who oppose both God’s law and man’s, even if it defies science and all logic.

Charlie Kirk encouraged people to have civil dialogue about the issues that divide our country and lead to strife. He spoke truth about his Lord and Savior, who holds all answers, not only to life and death, but to racial problems, marital problems, moral problems, broken hearts, and broken lives. The ideology of hate and hedonism killed him, thinking to silence his message.

What Will We Do?

We who know the truth of Jesus Christ must carry on with courage, faith, and tenacity. This battle is a spiritual one, fought in realms we cannot see, even more fiercely than it is in the arenas we can see. Ephesians 6:12-13 tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Above all else, people need Jesus. This battle will be won one life at a time. With each person who comes to understand the saving power of Jesus Christ, the enemy loses. When Paul finished explaining the armor of God needed to contend in this battle. He wrote in Ephesians 6:18-19, “To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel …”

We can do no less.

God’s Unfailing Love and Perfect Justice

Hosea prophesied that because Israel and Judah had forgotten their God, they would be destroyed. Does the United States of America deserve a better fate? Hosea 7:13 says, “Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.”

Who do you know that you can begin a dialogue with about the differences in our country? How can you encourage a return to debating ideas without attempting to assassinate the character of opponents?

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, who can you share Him with today? How can you show the love of Jesus to someone who thinks differently from you?

 The old song says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” May we live to change our world with that love.

Why did this happen? Perhaps to light a fire under believers and embolden us to share God’s solutions to the problems and the hope of Jesus with our lost world.