With the politics, social problems, and daily struggles in this crazy world, I find it difficult to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude. It is easy to fall into the trap of harsh words and angry voices as people are pushing ideas left and right into your mind and wanting you to believe in something. If you turn on the TV, news reporters are announcing terrorists attacks globally and fights amongst ourselves as Americans on a national level. It seems everyday tons of people die because of the hatred and the malicious actions out of that hatred. How can a world, or a nation for that matter, ever hope for peace with the anger that is rooted in ourselves?
For such a complex question, there is a simple answer. Love. I don't mean love between two friends, or love between two lovers. I mean unconditional love that was given to us before any of us were thought of. That unconditional love that can save the world is only through Jesus. Jesus walked this earth in that love, and since He died on the cross 2000 years ago and rose, He has enabled us to receive that same love. By just asking for it, Jesus will give us that unconditional love.
However, it isn't enough to just receive this love that He so willingly was tortured and crucified for. We have to present others with it. That sounds like a simple task, but in reality it's an enormous task. We have to love people even when they don't deserve it. I'll give an example. If someone cuts you off while driving, contrary to popular belief, you don't post on social media or tell your friends about how people can't drive, and that everyone is an idiot. That isn't talking or acting in love and quite frankly won't change the world for the better.
Danny Gokey, a popular Christian artist and ex-American Idol contestant, has a new single out with a powerful message. The song is entitled "Better Than I Found It." In his song, Gokey sings about how there is so much evil and hatred in this world that it is sickening and depressing. It is easy to fall victim to the dooming idea that the world will never know peace, but Gokey tells us that there is still hope. If we ever want the world to change, we have to do it ourselves.
Jesus walked this earth in love, and we as Christians are to follow suit. There is hope even in today's doom and gloom because Jesus is coming back again with His everlasting, unconditional love. We as followers can help bring peace to the world by walking in love and not in hate. As Danny Gokey's song says, we are to leave this world better than we found it. How do we do that? We erase the word hate from our dictionary, and replace it with love. We take the anger in our emotions and replace it with love. Most importantly, we take the sarcasm and hurtful tones out of our voice and replace it with love. Then, and only then, can we ever hope to have the world change. If we don't want to be the change we want to see, then how will it ever come to be?
