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The Resurrection in a Fading World: Hope in the Midst of Collapse

Our world spins faster than ever—but not always in a forward direction. Division shapes the cultural mood. People default to an "us vs. them" mindset. Political parties demonize opponents. Global superpowers posture for dominance. Even neighbors now meet each other with suspicion instead of trust.

Meanwhile, our population skyrockets. The United Nations reported that the world population surpassed 8 billion in 2022. Clean water, fertile soil, and affordable housing are becoming increasingly scarce each year. Human consumption strains the planet. Scientists warn that we are pushing Earth toward irreversible climate and ecological collapse.¹

We don't just grow—we overreach.

Beneath the chaos lies a deeper issue—a spiritual crisis.

The Root Issue: A Crisis of Separation

We haven't just drifted from one another—we've separated ourselves from God.

This spiritual fracture fuels our polarization, selfishness, and instability. Secularism rises, and confusion deepens. In 2021, Gallup reported that fewer than 50% of Americans belonged to a religious congregation—the first time this has happened in the nation's history.² Instead of seeking the divine, many now turn inward, depending on human innovation, political ideologies, and self-expression to save them.

But none of it works.

One of my favorite theologians, C.S. Lewis, captured this perfectly when he wrote:
"Human history is the long, terrible story of humans trying to find something other than God which will make them happy." ~C.S. Lewis³

We keep chasing substitutes. And now we add another layer—a worldview shaped by evolution and spiritual detachment. If survival of the fittest defines life, then compassion becomes optional. Morality becomes relative. Hope feels irrational.

But hope remains what we need most.

The Signs of Collapse

Our world shows clear signs of distress:

  • Polarization: Civil discourse has broken down—social media rewards outrage. Tribalism dominates. People unfriend family members over political differences and treat disagreements as if they were betrayals.
  • Overpopulation & Resource Scarcity: MIT's Limits to Growth model projects that if current consumption trends continue, global collapse could begin by 2040. This warning doesn't stem from superstition—it is based on decades of data.⁴
  • Spiritual Numbness: A Generation Raised Without God Doesn't Find Peace. Anxiety and depression surge. Suicide continues to rank among the leading causes of death among youth and adults.⁵

These issues aren't just cultural or political. They're deeply spiritual.

Paul writes in Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

The planet groans. Humanity groans. Our souls groan.

We've lost our way because we disconnected ourselves from our Creator.

What If the Resurrection Is Real?

In a world drowning in fake news, broken systems, and empty ideologies, the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as more than a religious belief. It stands as history—a reality with eternal consequences.

If Jesus walked out of the grave, then everything changes.

Because of the resurrection:

  • Death loses its power.
  • The lie that this world is all there is gets exposed.
  • The "us vs. them" narrative dies at the cross, where grace flows freely to all.
  • This fading world becomes the prelude to a new creation.

The resurrection doesn't deny our brokenness—it confronts it. Jesus speaks to the cynic, the addicted, the lonely, the angry, and the overwhelmed:

"You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not finished. I have conquered death, and I redeem what seems unredeemable."

An Illustration of Hope

Picture yourself in a war zone. Smoke fills the air. Flames rage around you. Confusion paralyzes your steps. Then, someone appears, steps into the fire, takes your place, and leads you out.

That's what Jesus did. He didn't avoid the flames. He walked through them. He died in them. And He rose from them.

If He rose, then hope has a name.

Jesus declared, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." (John 11:25)

This claim doesn't offer escapism. It grounds us in a deeper reality. The resurrection proves that God hasn't abandoned the world—or us.

Conclusion

We face a divided world, a strained planet, and a generation starving for meaning. But the resurrection of Jesus still breaks through the darkness. It reminds us that the worst thing is never the last thing.

The tomb stands empty. Christ lives. Hope endures.

Point to Ponder:

In a fading world, the resurrection brings a love that never fades and secures a future no one can steal.

Quote to Remember:

"The resurrection is not just a promise of life after death, but the power of life in the midst of death."
~N.T. Wright⁶

Reflection Question:

What will you do this week to live as someone whose hope is rooted in the resurrection, not in the headlines?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help us let go of our fears, doubts, and prejudices. Open our hearts to the possibility of something greater. Teach us that we do not need to understand everything to experience change. Grant us the willingness to step forward in faith, knowing that results will follow.
In Spirit and Truth, Amen.

In Freedom & Resurrection Hope,
Harold E. Long

 

Sources (Chicago Style):

  1. United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2022. https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/World-Population-Prospects-2022.
  2. Gallup, Inc. "U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time." Gallup News, March 29, 2021. https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx.
  3. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperOne, 2001.
  4. Turner, Graham. "Is Global Collapse Imminent?" Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne, 2014. https://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/2763500/MSSI-ResearchPaper-4_Turner_2014.pdf.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Suicide Data and Statistics." CDC.gov, updated January 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html.
  6. Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: HarperOne, 2008.