Why Utopian Idealists Despise Christ’s Cross
It has long been a scheme of deception by Satan and an ambitious endeavor by the sons of Adam to make heaven on earth. The quest is to conceive then construct the ideal utopia…without God. It is not as if people are atheists in reality. God has made His existence to be known by the things He has made — which requires an active suppression of the truth by the idealists (Rom 1:18–20).
The promise of Satan-in-disguise was that if humanity would join his rebellion against God, they would be like gods (Gen 3:5). The result was competition, rivalry to see who would be king (Eccl 4:4). Taller towers, famous names, and more vibrant cities emerged (Gen 11). Everything has gotten bigger and does so even faster than before. Man is still convinced that his ways are higher than God’s ways.
In truth, God’s ways are far higher than the thoughts, ideas, philosophies, and religions contrived by puny man (Is 55:9). In addition, God has no intention of sharing His glory with another (Is 42:8; 48:11), so man’s blind endeavor to manufacture the heavenly society on earth will always be exposed as a sham. Follow the money and the cases of sexual abuse and you find your “god” imposters. There is no new thing under the sun, nor is there any differentiation among despots and despot wannabes (Eccl 1:9). Without God, man’s mind is an exercise in futility (Eph 4:17). All his machinations are mental illness.
As God revealed Himself to fallen man through history, the light of truth was shining brighter and brighter. The small beginnings of revelation to Abraham (Gen 12) led to the giving of the Law to Israel through Moses (Ex 20; Dt 5). Israel’s failure to comply with God’s Law revealed Messiah as the only hope for people trapped in the unrealistic experiment of world peace. Every politician, a prophet cries out, “Peace, peace!” Only the deluded believe in “new voices for a new world order.”
Despite endless promises for “great resets” the true reset for humanity started with the first advent of Jesus Christ, the Son of God sent from heaven to be the Savior of the world (Jn 3:16; 4:42). The way of the incarnate God-man was unlike the ambitious demigods (Jn 1:14). Jesus’ humble beginnings ended humbly. He died a criminal’s death, after claiming that He came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk 19:10).
Jesus’ charge against those who brought charges against Him was that they were hypocrites, blind guides, wicked haters of God and men, etc. Jesus offended His enemies with the truth about themselves. He exposed the total depravity of humanity, including the fact the unredeemed sinners were children of the devil (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10). Jesus was the light of the world (Jn 8:12), having come into the world, to shed light on the darkness, expose evil (Eph 5:11), and destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8).
The high point of Jesus’ assault on the world forces of darkness was His death on the cross. In fulfilling types and shadows of the Old Testament, Jesus’ identity as Messiah was revealed. The prophets of Israel promised that Messiah’s coming would be the true catalyst of division between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ has divided humanity ever since.
No one is conceived in his or her mother’s womb as a Christian (Ps 51:5; Rom 5:12), for one must be born again (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). A man must be transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13). The kingdom of God on earth, today, is wherever the Holy Spirit is gathering Christ’s church in local assemblies (1 Cor 12:13) — for where the Spirit of Christ is there is righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom 14:17).
With every member of the body of Christ being added to His church, the Israel of God (Is 49:1–6; Gal 6:16), the Spirit convicts the world of sin (Jn 16:8). As sinners become saints, by the mercy and grace of God, their little lights begin to shine together in the darkness (Mt 5:14). This is the light of the living God who has brought dead souls to life (Jn 6:63; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). Men are dead to God being dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). When the Holy Spirit comes upon them, these new believers in Jesus become empowered witnesses for the King of glory (Acts 1:8).
The natural man, still under the wisdom and power of Satan, does not stop his rebellion against God and His anointed (Ps 2:1–2). Instead, he rages with greater ferocity, like a prowling lion intent on persecuting Christians (Mt 5:10–11). Why is there so much hate in the world toward God (Rom 1:30), Jesus Christ (Jn 7:7), and Christians (Jn 15:18–25)? The answer is that the Gospel message is the ultimate destroyer of the pride of man.
The insatiable lust to be king of the mountain or god of one’s own planet is utterly at odds with heaven’s call for men to repent into subjection to Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30). Sinners do not want Jesus to reign over them (Lk 19:14). Their rebellion is only intensified apart from the new birth. The utopian ideal and one’s pursuit of it only exacerbates man’s penchant to rule over his neighbor, murdering him if necessary (Gen 4).
The imperative for Christian preachers, called of God to preach the Bible, is to preach the Bible (2 Tim 4:2). It is the Word of the cross that cuts and separates humanity (Heb 4:12). Those who are cut to the quick, by the Sword of the Spirit, submit to Christ when they hear of His blood shed for them on Calvary’s tree (Mt 26:28; Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 1:19). Those who were not appointed to life by God the Father, who do not believe in nor belong to Christ, are only incensed by being confronted again and again by the Word that already declares their condemnation and forthcoming sentencing at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) — God’s appointed judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5).
Friend, there is no great reset to a new world order, leading to whatever version of utopian ideal you have foolishly believed. You have been deceived by your evil slave master, the devil, who has blinded your mind from the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:4). Repent and receive God’s Word of truth and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 16:31).
It is Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, who rose from the dead, who ascended into heaven, who was enthroned in glory, who reigns. It is His kingdom that is forming, and which will be forever. Anyone attempting to build anything that competes with Christ and His kingdom is Antichrist — no matter how idyllic his planned utopia.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 18, 2022
