Mankind's Never-Ending Hope

Guy Laliberté, founder of the world-famous "Le Cirque du Soleil" circus troupe, made unusual use of his time last October as a "space tourist" aboard the International Space Station. On October 10, 2009, he produced from space an unprecedented worldwide performance, which he titled, "Moving Stars and Earth for Water."

The show was an amazing achievement of technology, coordinating participants in 14 countries with Laliberté in low earth orbit. Hundreds cooperated to bring about the event, which promoted the conservation of marshes, rivers and lakes around the globe. Recent reports tell us that more than a billion people are suffering from hunger and lack of water. One of the biggest lakes in Africa—Lake Chad—is drying up; mountain glaciers in South America that provide water to entire populations are melting and disappearing. Water is a precious—and for many a disappearing—commodity. More and more people are finding themselves in a desperate struggle to find water, and the future for many is bleak.

During the show, Canadian singer Diane Dufresne presented a beautiful song. Its words, in part, were:

"Ne tuons pas la beauté du monde,

Faisons de la terre un grand jardin,

Pour ceux qui viendront après nous."

Or, rendered into English:

"Let us not destroy the beauty of the Earth;

But transform it into a big garden,

For those who will come after us."

Dufresne sang of a beautiful hope, which men and women have long cherished. But will we be able to bring it about?

The Bible describes conditions before Jesus Christ's return. "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark" (Matthew 24:38). Just as in Noah's day, the nature of mankind will be vile; we read that "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). Indeed, were God not to intervene, the human race would eventually destroy itself (Matthew 24:22)!

Truly, unless human beings acknowledge the way society is now going, and turn and accept God and His way of life, not only will humanity fail to find the beauty of which Dufresne sang; it will find only destruction.

But there is good news! Though human efforts will fail, this long-cherished dream will become a reality, brought about by a Source only a few now recognize. Jesus Christ, through whom God the Father created the Earth, will at His return bring peace and prosperity to planet Earth as never before! This is humanity's true hope, of a time when the desert will bloom as the rose (Isaiah 35:2), the animals will be tame (Isaiah 11:8; 65:25), and the entire planet will become as a large and wonderful garden! Not only that, but there will be food for all, health for all, happiness and peace and joy for all. The blind will see and the deaf will hear. This is the hope revealed in the plan of God. Human beings' never-ending hope will finally become reality, through the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Would you like to learn more about this wonderful time prophesied soon to begin here on the Earth? Please contact the Regional Office nearest you (listed on page 30 of this magazine) to request your free copy of our inspiring and encouraging booklet, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? You can also read it online or order a copy at our Web site, www.tomorrowsworld.org. Yes, there is hope for our future!