CITIES Why in Crisis? - What Future for Cities?

A Change in Management

Effecting such sweeping change is clearly beyond the capability of humans. So attempts to solve the problems of today's cities-no matter how well-intentioned they are-will ultimately fail.   Students of the Bible do not despair, however, for they see today's urban difficulties  are just one more example of man's inability to manage our planet properly.  (Amen! to that)  Today's sprawling, chaotic cities dramatically underscore the words of the Bible at Jeremiah 10:23:  "To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."  Man's attempts to rule himself have resulted in misery on a grand scale-problems that are simply magnified in our cities. 

City dwellers the world over can thus take comfort in the Bible promise recorded at Revelation 11:18:  that God  will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth." (note: and that is not just the ecological problems etc.  That is  government and others who are corrupt, immoral, greedy, dispassionate etc.)  Far from being negative, this points to a positive future for mankind.  It promises that God will take over  the management of our planet by means of a government, or Kingdom.  (Daniel 2:44)  No longer will millions live in unmanageable poverty, deprived of proper housing and basic sanitation, deprived of dignity, or deprived of hope.  Under the rule of God's government, people will enjoy material prosperity, vibrant health, and fine housing. -Isaiah 33:24; 65:21-23. 

This new world is the only realistic solution to the problems of today's cities.

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT - Are Dreams Messages From God? 

From the Awake! magazine