Lecture

Generation after generation has hoped for the best. We fought wars that would end all wars. We developed educational theories that would produce enlightened, nonviolent children. We conceived technologies that would deliver us from the oppressive slavery of work. Yet we are as close as ever to what the New Testament describes as an endtime marked by wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, disease, and spiritual deception.

Luis Palau: Human achievement is spectacular, especially in the last 100 years. Scientists have discovered amazing things. I’ve been watching the History Channel—it’s one of my favorites. And it shows a lot of the discoveries of the last 100 years. And it’s awesome: the medical breakthroughs, the technological breakthroughs, putting a person on the moon. I mean it’s so outrageous, you know. But the human heart cannot be touched by science, has not been changed by psychology. You can dabble at the edges, but the human being senses that we need a radical inner change. And science doesn’t offer that.

Dr. Vernon Grounds: Is the world improving? Is mankind making progress? Technologically, yes; morally, no. Alas, the twentieth century is perhaps the bloodiest century in all recorded time. You look at what’s transpiring around the world and, except for the promise of God and His ultimate purpose, you might succumb to despair.

Luis Palau: Science has its place, and we honor the scientists. And philosophy is exciting for those of us who like it, because it helps to understand and explain things. But no one can change a person except Christ coming into a life. And no one can explain us to ourselves like Christ can once He comes within us.

Dr. Vernon Grounds: Christianity is ultimate optimism, but it is now facing a temporary pessimism. And I think that would be the best way to describe it. We are pessimistic about what humans are going to achieve before history comes to an end. But we believe that God has His overarching purposes of redemption and that one of these days the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ and there will be justice and peace and joy.