Todd and I are in the process of selling our house and purchasing another, smaller home. We’re downsizing. We want less space and less stuff. That sounds admirable, doesn’t it? But let’s be real. As we look at the state of our world and the kind of suffering that is going on, our American version of “downsized” is pretty trivial. The vast majority of us live like kings relative to most of the world’s populations.

I’m excited about our new home, but I know how very unimportant it is in comparison to things that really matter. Are you like me, frustrated, angry, and overwhelmed by all that’s wrong in the world? Why is there evil in the hearts of men? Why do greed and power motivate? What possesses any man to believe that he can simply take what he wants without considering the cost of destruction? How can men shoot guns to kill others who have done nothing to them? Why do the rich care nothing for the poor? Why do we inflict the pain of war and hunger and fear and death upon our fellow man? Why can’t we all just get along?

The world will tell you it’s because “someone else” is wrong, that they are on the wrong side of politics, or religion, or ideology. And yes, men do choose wrong willfully. But we can’t dismiss the fact that there is a spiritual war going on underneath all the madness and mayhem.

Jesus brought the real issue to the forefront when He confronted the Pharisees for their hypocritical, selfish behavior and their rejection of Him as the Messiah. They claimed to know and speak for God but did not know God at all. They were on the wrong side of the underlying spiritual war.

John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Men do evil things because they belong to Satan’s kingdom. They speak lies. They murder. They cause wars. They displace innocent families. They kill and maim in their pursuit of power, driven by desires and lusts that have their root in the pit of hell. It’s not rocket science to know who is on the wrong side and who’s on the right side. If you murder and lie, you are of your father the devil.

That’s a depressing, scary thought, isn’t it, but it cannot leave us hopeless. There is One who is more powerful than any evil, who rules and reigns from Heaven. His name is Jesus, and He is the answer that our world needs. Jesus is the only One who can conquer Satan, because He is the Son of God, and has all power and authority of God because He is God.

John 8:31-32 – So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 8:51,56-58 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death. … Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.”

Exodus 3:14 – God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM;” and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Colossians 1:13 – For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The hope for the world is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only thing that can change a man’s heart and free him from the kingdom of darkness. One day, Jesus is coming back to set all things right. Satan’s influence on the hearts of men will end and he will be cast into the lake of fire forever, along with all who have rejected Jesus in allegiance to him. Those who have chosen to stand with Jesus, on the only right side that exists, will live forever, never to see the unspeakable horrors that Satan perpetrates on our world again.

We do not have to live in fear; physical death may come, but there is life and glory on the other side for all who trust in Jesus. That is my prayer for the world today. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!