[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

“Welcome to the Millennium!”

Life After Christ Returns

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the loudly declared hope of many people all over the world!

Yet how many think of what the world will be like after His return? In fact, how many even understand that there will BE a world here on earth after His return?

Yet, the Bible gives many astonishing details concerning just what that future world under Jesus Christ will be like!

And in today’s world of sin, concern, and despair, understanding what tomorrow’s world will bring is a beautiful source of hope, confidence, and inspiration. Join us here on Tomorrow’s World as we open the Bible to look into tomorrow’s world—a time when Christ will be able to finally say, “Welcome to the Millennium!” Stay tuned!

The Saints Will Rule With Christ for 1,000 Years

Greetings, and welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.

The name of our program and our magazine is “Tomorrow’s World” because Jesus Christ has commissioned us to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and His promise to bring a NEW world under His rulership—doing away with the sins and corruptions of today’s world and replacing them with the glorious, hope-filled wonders of tomorrow’s world.

That message does include warnings concerning the world today and concerning what Christ says must take place between now and then. But it also includes many details about tomorrow’s world and the joys that await mankind when that world arrives.

Today we are going to discuss a relative handful of those details, and we pray they will fill you with hope for the future and a yearning desire to be a LIVING PART of that world to come—and possibly a desire to be a part of proclaiming that message today.

Now at the beginning of the biblical book of Acts, the inspired author, Luke, tells us of the last moment Jesus’ disciples saw Him on earth, after He had spent 40 days after His resurrection teaching them about the coming Kingdom of God.

It says that He then rose out of their sight and disappeared into the clouds, at which point two angels told them that He would be returning to this earth from heaven in the exact same fashion.

And since then, the Church He founded and those who have believed His message of the Kingdom of God have longed to see that day! But what will happen after He returns? After the Second Coming of Jesus Christ… what happens next?

As we will see shortly, the Bible describes the time following Jesus’ return as a 1,000-year period in which the world is transformed. Because it lasts for 1,000 years, we often call this period “The Millennium.” And while many may wonder about the details of that time, God’s word, in fact, provides copius details!

Prophecies and descriptions about people and life during that time that are all there waiting to be read by those who have eyes to see and a heart to believe.

On the rest of today’s program, we are going to discuss seven facts about life in the Millennium. And it’s our hope that this small preview will help you to imagine yourself there—and stir your desire to be a part of helping Jesus Christ build that world.

The first fact we’ll discuss about the Millennium is that the world will be ruled by [1] A DIVINE WORLD GOVERNMENT.

While few associate Jesus Christ with literal world government in the future, in reality Jesus’ Gospel is very much about government!

Let’s turn to Isaiah 9:6. Now while this passage is familiar to many, how many truly take it seriously?

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this (vv. 6–7).

Jesus Christ is KING OF KINGS, and He is coming back to literally rule the world! The Bible describes the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of His saints at the end of this age in Revelation 11:15,

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

And this is crucial: He will not rule alone! Revelation chapter 20 speaks of those who have struggled to overcome sin in this age who will rule alongside Jesus Christ in that age! In verse 4, the Apostle John says that in his vision of that time He saw thrones and that those who followed Christ in this age, now resurrected and transformed, were given judgment and authority. Verse 6 says,

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Now note: There’s that mention of a thousand years. And note, too, this is NOT a metaphor! When asked directly by Peter what he and the rest of the twelve disciples would receive for leaving everything behind and following Him, Jesus Christ told him directly:

Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28).

As many places in the Bible teach, in tomorrow’s world those who have followed Christ today will have, under Christ, power and authority over the nations as kings and priests with Him.

Jesus explains that those who have loved Him and obeyed Him in this life will be resurrected as full Children of God in power and majesty, just as He is right now! Those who OVERCOME with Christ in THIS age will RULE with Christ in THAT age—as glorified SONS OF THE ALMIGHTY, helping to transform this world with God’s laws of love, mercy, and righteousness!

With Satan Bound for a Thousand Years, God’s Law Will Be Taught in the Millennium

Yet a key task awaits Jesus Christ before His rulership of the world begins in earnest. Before the NEW ruler of this world can begin His transforming work, the OLD ruler of the world must be dealt with!

In today’s free offer, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?, author and evangelist Roderick C. Meredith explains:

“However, during this present age, Satan the devil is ‘broadcasting’ wrong attitudes and he influences people to take wrong actions continually. The Apostle Paul reminded the Christians of Ephesus that they had ‘once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience’ (Ephesians 2:2). So, Satan the devil is busy. He ‘works’ continually—turning mankind away from God and God’s true ways. He is the source of much of the suffering and evil—the wars, rapes, tortures, and various other abominations—occurring in today’s world” (p. 13).

How can tomorrow’s world become all God would have it to be while the great deceiver and corrupter of mankind, the Devil, is allowed to continue operating on the minds and hearts of mankind? It can’t!

This leads us to the second fact about life in the Millennium. Immediately after His return, Christ will oversee [2] THE BANISHMENT OF SATAN THE DEVIL.

In vision, the Apostle John saw this glorious event take place immediately upon Jesus’ return. He recorded what he saw in Revelation 20, beginning in verse 1.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished” (vv. 1–3).

Yes, the great deceiver of mankind, the serpent of old whom the Bible calls “the ruler or god of this world” will be removed for 1,000 years, unable to influence humanity in his ways of competition, envy, strife, hatred, lust, and brutality.

Can you IMAGINE what will become possible on earth over the course of the next 1,000 years, with Jesus Christ, Himself, reigning and ruling in the affairs of men from Jerusalem, with His glorified brothers and sisters aiding Him in the Family of God, ruling the Kingdom of God, and with the influence of Satan the devil completely removed from this world? For those who have lived through the Great Tribulation and the calamities at the end of this age on into this glorious time—what sorts of things will they see? What sort of world will be created around them?

We begin to see the possibilities when we consider the next fact about life in the Millennium. With Satan banished, the world will see [3] GOD’S LAWS AND WAY OF LIFE TAUGHT TO ALL HUMANITY for 1,000 years.

That teaching will begin in Jerusalem. We see this in many places in Scripture, including here in Isaiah 2 and verse 3:

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

With the clouds of the devil’s deceptions gone, and seeing the fruit of the way of life God offers, people will HUNGER for the laws and principles of righteousness that Jesus Christ and his glorified saints will be ready to teach!

Look at this moving description in Zechariah chapter 8, and imagine this being said in TODAY’S world, in which so many seem so antagonistic against the nation of Israel:

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (v. 23).

In today’s world? Not going to happen. But in tomorrow’s world during the Millennium? Every nation in the world will want the true, biblical laws of God.

And the glorified saints, themselves, will have a role in teaching those laws.

Chapter 30 of Isaiah gives us an intriguing peak into that world, where true Christians—now glorified like their Savior and empowered—help serve those in the Millennium seeking to live God’s ways. Beginning in verse 20:

And though the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left (vv. 20–21).

The servants of Christ will be working with people, teaching them—helping them understand God’s way and live it every day. As a result, Isaiah 11 and verse 9 says, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

And where the law of God goes, and hearts are willing to keep it, beautiful things follow.

Is World Peace Possible? Jesus Christ Will Show the Way

With these NEW foundations in place in the Millennium, what sort of world will Christ build?

In TODAY’S world, the terrors and brutality of war have left many lame, crippled, and broken, and the degeneration of our bodies in this sinful world and our ignorance of God’s laws of health has brought illness, disease, and calamity to the human race. But Christ and His Glorified Family will bring an end to such suffering!

For instance, in the Millennium, there will finally be [4] GLOBAL PEACE FOR ALL NATIONS.

The great statue at the United Nations of a man beating his sword into a plowshare as described in Isaiah 2:4 will no longer be a symbol of man’s impotence at achieving real peace, because the King of Kings will make it so! Let’s read that passage, but let’s begin with what we read earlier in verse 3:

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

This world will no longer ultimately be run by impotent, inept, and corrupt governments, incapable of producing the peace they preach—but it will be run by the Ever-Living One, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who will enforce His laws in this world in a way no human can and with a wisdom no human has! And more than bringing an end to war, He shall teach peace! Our nations and peoples war because they do not know the way of peace—yet Luke 1:79 proclaims that Christ will give light to those who sit in darkness and will guide our feet into the way of peace!

In addition, the Millennium will see [5] AN END TO SICKNESS AND DISEASE.

Turn a few chapters over to the beautiful verses of Isaiah 35. We read there of this time to come,

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing (Isaiah 35:5–6).

Imagine a world with no more blindness, no more disease—no more suffering! Not only will divine and miraculous healing be available to the sick, but the very Designer of life and health will teach the LAWS of life and health to a world finally open to learning those laws.

But Scripture says that Jesus Christ will do more than heal people… He will heal the land and teach the peoples of the earth how to farm the land and care for the earth as only the Creator of that earth could know!

As a result, the Millennium will see [6] A RESTORED AND BEAUTIFUL PLANET for all to enjoy.

We read of the healing of the land in Isaiah 35, which we read from earlier:

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose… For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water… (vv. 1, 6–7).

In such a restored and vibrant land, crops will be abundant, [and] food will be overflowing!

Amos 9:13 describes this wonderful aspect of that time in beautiful terms:

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.”

In a world where there is true peace, no more disease, and a restored and beautiful planet, want for food and lack of necessities shall become a thing of the past.

Over 1,000 years, they will become increasingly distant memories of a world long gone—replaced by new memories of a world the way God wants it to be… a world ruled and cared for by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

And After the Millennium…?

So far, we’ve seen that the Millennium will feature A DIVINE WORLD GOVERNMENT, and it will begin with THE BANISHMENT OF SATAN THE DEVIL. During that time, GOD’S LAWS AND WAY OF LIFE WILL BE TAUGHT TO ALL HUMANITY. This will help bring GLOBAL PEACE FOR ALL NATIONS—as well as bringing AN END TO SICKNESS AND DISEASE and A RESTORED AND BEAUTIFIED PLANET.

And finally, Jesus Christ will bring THE RESTORATION OF BIBLICAL WORSHIP.

After all, the new leader of the world will not be merely a president, or prime minister—or even merely a human king. He will be the living Creator, and He will restore true faith in God and true, biblical worship practices to the whole earth. For instance, Isaiah 66:23 speaks of the Millennium and says that “‘from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before me,’ says the LORD.”

Similarly, Zechariah 14 and verse 16 clearly says “it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

Yes, mankind will no longer wander in ignorance, inventing his own religions and worship practices. In the Millennium the entire world will finally be turned to worship the true God of the Bible, and His glorious Son who will be reigning in Jerusalem!

Of course, the Millennium is not the end of God’s plan! There is more—much more—beyond the Millennium… And the Bible discusses details about that time, as well, from the Millennium, on into eternity!

But that discussion will have to be for another time, since our time is just about up.

But before we go, let me say that you don’t have to wait until the Millennium arrives to begin living according to the principles that will make it everything it is.

You can live according to those principles right now… and begin tasting tomorrow’s world today.

Tomorrow’s World has representatives all across the globe, ready to help you as you begin to act on the things you are learning on this program.

In fact, all over the world, members of the Living Church of God, the sponsor of this telecast, meet together on the seventh-day Sabbath every week to learn about the word of God together, to worship, to edify, encourage, and support each other, to fellowship with others of like mind, and to point one another to this remarkable world to come.

If there is anything that Tomorrow’s World or the Living Church of God can do to help you begin living the principles, laws, and way of life of the coming Millennium in your life today, we stand ready to help.

So, until next time, take care.

Thanks so much for watching our video today! We do work very hard here at Tomorrow’s World to put these videos together to help you make sense of your world through the pages of your Bible.

If you enjoyed this video and it was helpful to you, please click subscribe, and you might click on that bell so you’re notified when new videos come out, and if you want todays offer, by all means take a look at the description and you’ll find the link there. Thanks so much!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Have Men Just Become Obstacles?

Not long ago, I attended the college commencement exercises for my daughter. It was an exciting day for the students who had worked so hard to finish their studies. As I watched, it was gratifying to think about the hard work and determination it took for each of those graduates just to be there. One of the top students in the class gave the valedictorian address. He was a young man, probably in his early 30s, who had distinguished himself as an outstanding student. He told his story and gave a really remarkable speech. He spoke of challenges and obstacles—some very personal—that he had overcome. It was quite touching. He was there with his wife and his young daughter, and I couldn’t help but feel admiration for this man and what he was already making of his life.

Toward the end of his talk, he spoke of the women in his life—his mother, his daughter, his wife—and how important they were to him. But then his speech went down a perplexing path. He addressed the men in the audience and said, “Really the best thing we can do for the women in our lives, is just get out of the way.”

I thought to myself, Wow, what a shocking statement! Out of all the things that we could say to a generation of young men, that’s the best we can expect? At that moment, there were thousands of men in the audience. I thought of them. I asked myself, Is this going to inspire them to dream great dreams, to be builders of society, and to strive to serve and give of themselves to their families? When the best we expect of them is just “Get out of the way”?

I walked away shaking my head. Not because I’m against men learning to honor and respect and admire the women in their lives. No, quite the contrary. Rather, I thought, what a shame for the opportunity missed to show both men and women they can help each other. See, life is made up of relationships, the most important being marriage. And a marriage partnership between a man and a woman takes teamwork and sacrifice on both sides.

What is the best a man can do? How can he be successful in marriage and in life? The answer doesn’t come from the woke agenda of our modern world that believes masculinity is toxic. Rather, the answer lies in understanding a man’s real purpose. And that purpose is revealed in the Bible.

The modern, secular, radical agenda is not giving our young men and boys the true perspective they need.

Three Keys to the Potential of Men

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.

Is the highest ideal we can expect from a man, just to “get out of the way” of women? Or were men and women designed to work TOGETHER to succeed? If you’ve been watching this program for any length of time, you know we hold the Bible to be the source of wisdom for life. It was inspired by God, and it gives us advice about how to make our relationships work.

God made men to be men. He made women to be women. He put us in marriages and in families. And not surprisingly, He has instructions for men on what we can do to make our relationships work. So, what’s the best a man can do to achieve his God-given potential? We’ll identify three things in today’s program.

#1: Love and honor your wife

Now, that’s simple, you might say. Everyone does that. If you’re married, you love your wife—otherwise why would you get married? But stop and think for a moment. Maybe we DON’T fully understand what it means to love and honor your wife, since so many marriages end in divorce.

Look at the statistics. In the United States, if you were married in the 1950s, 25 years later you have about a 25% chance of being divorced. If you were married in the 1970s, 25 years later you have almost a 50% chance of being divorced. That’s an American tragedy (“Marriages and Divorces,” OurWorldInData.org, 2020).

But it’s not just in the United States where so many marriages are failing. In England and Wales, a similar trend is occurring. In England and Wales, if you take all the marriages entered into in the year 2000, 17 years later, almost 35% of them had failed. This is not just an American problem, nor is it just in the British Isles.

A Psychology Today article written in 2019 reports, “Globally, in the nearly four decades between 1970 and 2008, the divorce rate has more than doubled…” (“Divorce Rates Around the World: A Love Story,” PsychologyToday.com, February 3, 2019).

The title of the article was “Divorce Rates Around the World: A Love Story.” I wouldn’t call that a love story. I’d call that a painful and heartrending disaster.

So, what is wrong with marriage today? Maybe we don’t know what “love your wife” really means. Now, of course, we can’t lay all the blame for divorces on men—both men and women have a part to play. But in the context of our topic today, shouldn’t we be looking at what men contribute to their side of the marriage, so they can be better at truly loving their wives?

Many have overlooked the fact that the Bible gives practical and direct advice to men about love and marriage, so notice what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:28:

“So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it…” (Ephesians 5:28–29).

So, think about this, men. Do you take care of yourself? Do you look after your health, your well-being, your needs? Of course you do. We all do. Paul is saying, if you’re married, treat your wife like you would treat yourself. Talk with her. Be aware of her needs. Be patient and thoughtful even when she’s down or upset. That’s what love is. It’s not just a passing feeling or romantic notion. It’s a commitment to care for another human being as you’d care for yourself in good times or bad.

Now, think about it. Would men AND WOMEN be happier if real LOVE was emphasized in our culture? I think the answer is obvious. The Apostle Peter echoed the same instruction to men in 1 Peter 3:7:

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

The Bible tells men to honor women. Not to demean them. Not to put them down. Not to insult them or abuse them. But to honor them.

Now, some will take issue with Paul for saying women are the weaker vessel. But it’s really not hard to understand. In fact, in the article, “What Science Tells Us About Transgender Women Athletes,” the authors put it succinctly: “Men are, on average, bigger, faster, stronger and have greater endurance than women…” (Quoted from “Experts Cite Data and Research For Why Transgender Participation Should Be Outlawed in Female Sports,” Swimming World Magazine, May 12, 2022).

There are exceptions of course. But by and large, this is true. So why did God create men to be bigger and stronger? To dominate women? To crush them physically or emotionally? No. Rather, it was God’s intention that a man learns to care for, nourish, and protect the woman he’s committed himself to.

There was a time in naval history when the unwritten rule was, if a ship went down, the women and children would get the lifeboats first. This code of conduct was popularized in 1852 at the sinking and evacuation of the Royal Navy ship HMS Birkenhead. It was thereafter called the “Birkenhead drill” because of the ship captain’s insistence that the men give up their lives for the protection of the women and children that were on that ship. The same standard was applied at the sinking of the Titanic. Many men gave up their spot on lifeboats to their wives and children. And they themselves died in the icy waters of the north Atlantic. One has to wonder, have we come to the point in our history where men today would feel no sense of responsibility to protect women in an emergency such as that? Is that who we are?

Men were designed to stand up for and cherish and protect their wives to their last breath.

A Godly Standard for Male Behavior

Husbands and wives are to work as a team, not as competitors. And men need to be inspired and challenged to care for and care about their wives. Loving and honoring wives is vital. But that’s not all there is. In this segment we’ll examine a second challenge for men to be their best.

About 3,000 years ago there lived a very wise king. In fact, his reputation spread far and wide. We have many of his teachings preserved in the Bible. His name was Solomon. And from Solomon we get our second challenge to men:

#2: Fear God and keep His commandments

What does this have to do with a man’s relationship with his wife? Let me explain. This phrase is actually taken straight out of the Bible. Let’s read it together. It’s found in Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

When Solomon summed up the purpose of life, the meaning of life, and why we’re here. This is what he said. Fear God. Keep His Commandments. This is man’s all. Now, we understand “man” here to be “mankind,” or “humanity.” But let’s step back and apply this scripture to the half of humanity that are called men. What if every last man on this earth would be doing this today? How would it change the world? How would it change the world for women?

Well, first of all, if all men feared God, there would be no crime. There would be no domestic abuse. There would be no fear for women walking down a dark, abandoned alley late at night.

Now, what does “fear God” mean? God doesn’t want us to be frightened or terrified of Him. It just means He wants our attention, our focus, and our obedience. He wants us to deeply respect Him and hold Him in awe. Why is that? Because He’s in Heaven and we’re on earth. He made us, He controls everything around us. And He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need to do that will really make us happy in the long run.

What about the commandments? They simply are the Ten Commandments, as found in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. You know, the Ten Commandments often get a bad rap today. They’re seen as harsh, demanding dictates from an unloving and uncaring God. But have you ever actually looked at them to see what they say? Many of them actually teach us how to love our neighbor. Let’s look at the command against adultery. This is found in Exodus 20:14:

“You shall not commit adultery.”

What’s adultery? That’s an old word that means having sexual relations with someone who is not your wife. Now, how out of fashion is that? And yet, imagine all of the broken marriages torn apart because of infidelity. Certainly, infidelity can be the cause of actions of either the husband or the wife. But let’s focus on the men right now. What if men, from little on, were taught to be faithful to their wives, till death? That sex is a precious gift that only belongs in a lifelong, committed marriage relationship.

Do we see how keeping this and other of the Ten Commandments would make the world a safer and more secure world for women? Women don’t need men to get out of the way. Women need men to fear God and keep His commandments. That would make a radical and monumental change for the better.

But we can take this one step further. Because Jesus explained in Matthew 5:27 that there is physical adultery, and then there is adultery of the heart;

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28).

Pornography is a curse in our Western nations. It’s not just a curse for men—women get hooked, too. In fact, according to a 2016 working paper by researchers for the University of Oklahoma,

“Men who started watching pornography partway through a 2-year period doubled their chances of divorce. For women, that number tripled” (“Divorce rates double when people start watching porn,” Science.org, August 26, 2016).

At a 2002 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, attorneys gathered were surveyed about the effects of porn on divorce. What were the results of the survey?

“‘An obsessive interest in Internet pornography’ was a significant factor in 56 percent of their divorce cases the prior year” (Opinion: “National Review: Getting Serious On Pornography,” NPR.org, March 31, 2010).

So, stop and think this through. What if men were taught, from a young age, that it’s not only wrong to commit fornication and adultery, but it’s wrong to even harbor lustful thoughts toward a woman? What if our culture would support parents’ efforts to protect their children from inappropriate images in the media, in movies, and on the Internet? What a different world this would be.

If you are a man and watching this now, think about your life. Think about your relationships. If you have a porn problem, get help. Get past it. Overcome it. Porn is sin. And sin destroys trust. Sin tears apart marriages. Yes, God can forgive, and He WILL forgive, if we repent. But we first must admit we’ve sinned and must have a DEEP desire to overcome it with God’s help.

Jesus Christ—The Ultimate Male Role Model

A few years ago, a well-known men’s skin-care products company set off a firestorm by a commercial they ran. The commercial not-so-subtly suggested that we should accept the progressive media view that men in general are toxic bullies and need to improve. The slogan of the commercial was, “The Best Men Can Be.”

We’ve already seen that God intended for men to care for their wives, to cherish them and protect them. So, yes, men should not be bullies. But the commercial didn’t tell the whole story. It didn’t finish the narrative of what men should attain to.

How can a man be “the best that he can be?” Let’s talk about that now.

#3: Become like Jesus Christ

Almost 2,000 years ago, there was a man who walked this earth, whose name was Jesus Christ. Many in our secular, humanistic culture of today don’t want to hear about Him, but He was the ultimate man. He was the standard. In fact, He was God in the flesh. He had been at the throne of the Father for all eternity past, and He emptied Himself of His divine privileges.* We read of that in Philippians 2:6. Referring to Jesus Christ, Paul writes,

“… who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8, English Standard Version).

He had been at the throne of God, with the Father. He gave that up for us. To become flesh and blood. To walk with us. He humbled Himself.

But He wasn’t a weakling. There is a common misconception of Jesus Christ as being a sort of effeminate individual who was soft and weak. Perhaps it’s because many pictures portray Him that way. But think about it. He was a carpenter. He was a builder. And back then there were no power tools. His hands were strong and used to work.

Again, it doesn’t mean He was weak because He cared for the interests of others. In fact, here’s an example of the type of man He was, in Matthew 21:12,

“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves” (Matthew 21:12).

Jesus Christ wasn’t a bully. But He also wasn’t afraid of taking strong action when it was required. The Temple was the house of God, and when He found crooks there taking advantage of and cheating the people, He stopped them, and threw them out. Notice what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, in Ephesians 4:13,

“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

If you’re a man who cares about your family and your wife, commit to becoming like Christ. If you want to make a difference in your world and build something worthwhile, become like Christ. If you want to set a strong and solid example for others to follow, become like Christ.

He’s the standard. He is the measure. He set the pace. And that’s what this world needs more of. And that’s what women need. Men like Christ.

I think one of the most touching and powerful passages in the Bible is at the end of Christ’s life, when He’s hanging on the stake, and He speaks to John, the disciple He was closest to. Let’s read it together:

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:25–27).

Jesus loved the whole world. Every human being. That’s why He gave His life. That’s why He allowed men to kill Him. So you and I could have a way out of sin. But even as He was hanging there, in his last moments, He did not forget the woman who had bore Him and raised Him. He ensured His mother would be cared for, just before He died—the last act of a dynamic, powerful, caring man.

Don’t give in to the cynical view of today, the idea that the Bible puts down women and tells men to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible holds men accountable for treating women well, and challenges them to do so, with God’s help.

God Made Men to Be Strong Leaders—For the Good of All

If you are a man, think about your life. Think about how you treat others. Think about how you interact with women, especially your wife. Are you living up to the standard of Jesus Christ? If you have young boys, it’s your responsibility to teach them how to be a real man. Not just a macho reflection of a movie hero, but a real man. Like Jesus Christ. To honor and respect women. Not just to “get out of their way.”

What if you’re a woman? What about the men in your life? If you have a husband, respect him. Value him. Appreciate what he does for you. Tell him you are thankful for how he sacrifices for you. And raise your boys to be valiant and faithful men themselves who respect women and value their own masculinity.

We are living in difficult times. But God is looking for men—and women—who can rise to the challenge.

In 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read this:

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Men, it’s not enough just to get out of the way. For the sake of the women in our lives, we must become what God wants us to be.

If you found this video helpful and want to learn more, be sure to order your free copy of our study guide, God’s Plan for Happy Marriage. Just click the link in the description to order, it’s that easy. And remember to like and subscribe to our channel so you can watch more videos on biblical topics.

Thanks for watching. See you next time!

* Editor’s Note: The telecast originally said “emptied Himself of His divinity,” which was a mistake on our part. Rather, Jesus emptied Himself of His divine power and prerogatives when He became flesh, as we have long taught and published and as explained here. We apologize for the error.