The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison. —Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
Applied technology and exploding amounts of information are giving rise to incredible human accomplishments in this world. There is no question that we are experiencing things that our ancestors couldn’t even have dreamed possible. But is it resulting in an improvement in the overall human condition? Given enough time, could we possibly create our own utopia?
That’s the hope of Utopianism—that things will get better and better with time until we have heaven on earth. The problem is that Utopianism is a misplaced optimism, and if we buy into it, it will take us out just like a ship taken out by a torpedo. With all our accomplishments, we have yet to come up with our own solution to the sinful and selfish soul of man. Our world will not end in paradise. Our accomplishments are really just fueling our demise.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:12-15)
Things are going from bad to worse, and this period of history will end in the fair and righteous judgment of Christ, who will once and for all set things right. That’s not what many hope for, but it’s actually very freeing to put our hope and trust in the right place.
Jesus, I place my ultimate hope in You today. Show me where I am trusting in things of this world, things that cannot and will not save me. Rather than scientists, doctors, politicians, or anything else, I transfer my trust to You in all things. I worship You as my Rock and my Redeemer! Amen.