Have you ever stopped to consider your personal worldview? That is, have you ever really given thought to some of life’s most basic questions—and how your answers correspond with those who do not believe in the God of Christianity? Everyone has a framework of ideas, beliefs and presuppositions through which he interprets the world around him and how he interacts in it. Think for a moment about four fundamental questions: Who are we? Where are we? What is wrong? What is the answer? Do your answers revolve around man or are they God-centered? Consider:
Who are we? One must first know who the only living and true God is before he can properly discern matters relating to self. Only when one discovers the beauty of an eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving, and immutable Being can he truly begin to understand his own purpose. God created man in His image. That is to say, human beings were created out of the dust from the ground and became living creatures (Gen 2:6). Mankind was endowed with a soul, an intellectual capacity to reason, moral uprightness, and dominion over the creation. The Lord set human beings apart as the crowing achievement of His creation and we are to fulfill our highest purpose and chief end: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
Where are we? The world in which mankind lives and operates is one that was created by God—a world that God called "good." The world and all the inhabitants therein were created without defect. Nevertheless, sin entered into the world and death and destruction soon followed. This mystery of how the first evil choice could voluntarily arise from a creature made perfect and holy will probably never be solved this side of heaven. It is hard to imagine what would cause a creature to choose evil if he was not already inclined to do so. Theologians have debated this issue for centuries and have offered reasonable explanations. Finite creatures can only remain without blemish through the indwelling of a perpetually holy God guarding against sin. But, if God chose to remove his preserving power from his creatures they would inevitably fall. This is what happened with Satan and Adam causing each to rebel. By way of illustration, to make a candle burn—it must be lighted, and to make the flame go out—it only need to be left alone. With that said, we currently find ourselves living in a world, yet we are to be set apart in that we do not partake of anything that seeks to displace God. That is not to say, however, that we are not to toil or partake of temporal things while we are here, but rather, our future hope rests in something greater than the here and now. Jesus answered Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven (John 14:3), so that we might spend eternity in the presence of our Savior.
What is wrong? There is an often-told anecdote about The Times asking several prominent authors one question: What is wrong with the world? G. K. Chesterton—influential English writer of the 20th century—responded simply, "I am." Chesterton’s response succinctly sums up the reality of sin in this world since the fall. The apostle Paul informs us that sin came into the world through Adam—who acted as the federal head—and death came through sin and so it spread to all of mankind because all have sinned (Rom 5:12). Evil is a bitter reality that God has sovereignly ordained to bring punishment upon the wicked (Ps 81:11–12), to test and to discipline those he loves (Heb 12:4–14), and to bring good from nefarious acts (Gen 50:20). Every sin that is committed has a special purpose in God’s design which he is working out for good for those who love him (Rom 8:28). It is not as if God did not want sin to come into existence. God’s will was that sin should enter the world for his ultimate glory, otherwise it would have never happened. And it was more than bare permission—it was by God’s eternal decree in order to fulfill his purpose. If God was not in absolute control over evil then we would have no assurance that he could prevent sinful actions from happening. If God did not ordain every evil act—past, present, and future—then there is no redemptive purpose why evil occurs. But, we know that God uses all sinful actions for his ultimate glory, just as Joseph told his brothers: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Gen 50:20).
What is the answer? True happiness is the consequence of having peace—and an everlasting peace that passes understanding comes only from a proper relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1). One is only a member of this relationship with God after the Holy Spirit has worked within the individual to renew his heart, making it alive. This act is necessary, because Paul tells us by nature people are "dead in the trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). Jesus further taught that unless a sinner was regenerated or born again, he could not see the kingdom of heaven. The New Testament speaks of hope as being the assurance of something not yet experienced. Our hope is not based on uncertain, wishful thinking but on Jesus Christ who is called "our hope" (1 Tim 1:1). This world is rife with trials and tribulations, but the Lord will give us strength to fight the good fight until he returns for all that believe.
