Parenting and Hope

Several weeks ago I bought a used stroller. I went to the building where I was to pick it up, and sat in the lobby waiting for the stroller. I pulled out a book to read, and the doorman asked me what I was reading.
"What Jesus Demands from the World," I replied.
"That's good," he said, "It's important to believe in something."
"So long as it is true," I followed.
Our conversation continued on the importance of belief, and the challenge of raising children in these days. As we did, I realized that the issue is hope. So I asked him directly, "What is your hope?"
He answered, "That there will be more good than evil in the world."

Our conversation was interrupted by the man who returned with the stroller, but it struck me deeply that the hope that people in our culture can have is at best wishful thinking. It may well be that there are many altruistic people; but will they be more, or more influential than those who are militantly evil?

The gospel that we preach does not close its eyes and say, "There will be more good than evil." Nor does it say that our hope is only in the world to come, so that we just hunker down and wait. The hope of the gospel is that as wickedness increases (and it will, Daniel 12:1), that our King yet reigns and will, through us, turn many to righteousness (Daniel 12:3), and will finally come and put all things under His feet.

This is the paradox of the Kingdom. It is truly very present: "The kingdom is among you," and it is present with power in this age. Yet in the wisdom of God, the kingdom does not advance to a cultural dominance over the world. Rather, it advances though scorned and despised, while wickedness increases. It is not only possible, but is prophesied that evil will increase AND the Kingdom will advance. The fullness of the Kingdom waits not on us to bring it, but on the return of the King, to defeat His enemies by the breath of His mouth, and to vindicate His servants who have been shattered (Daniel 12:7). The hope that we present to our children is the most glorious of all hopes that grows through trial rather than diminishing, and is undimmed by evil. Our is a great and glorious hope!