To anyone needing hope: About 40 years ago I became very depressed when I came to realize the fish I loved to catch were contaminated. It caused me to look for answers about the world we live in. I was impressed to look for those answers in the Bible. I am happy to say that I found the answers and with those answers I found hope, mega hope!

I learned that what we observe in the world, what we term nature is not the real norm. The real norm was sabotaged very soon after creation when Adam and Eve sinned by listening to Satan and disobeyed God. At that point in time things changed. Thorns and thistles and labor pains entered the scene. But the biggest change was death. For about 6,000 years, the human race has been living in an abnormal world. But we have become so accustomed to it that we think it is normal.

What gives me hope is learning that God has a restoration plan. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh, lived a perfect life among us, and tasted the second death (permanent death) for us. By accepting this great sacrifice (Jesus will bear our humanity forever!), we do not have to experience the second death.

Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth. But life on earth will not be like the life we are used to. Life will be like it was supposed to be when God pronounced it very good (Genesis 1:21).

On the new earth there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more sorrow, and no more death (Revelation 21:4).

My hope has never been based on man fixing earth’s problems. It is based on the sure word of God.

Glenn Gately

Port Townsend