In the early 1960s, the word HOPE was associated with a large, ocean-going ship called the SS HOPE. Your parents may remember this floating hospital that was deployed in 1960 to assist less-fortunate people in developing countries around the world. The SS HOPE was the world's first peacetime hospital ship—and became widely recognized as a symbol of American goodwill.

While the familiar block letters painted on the side of her hull were actually intended to be an acronym for "Health Opportunity for People Everywhere," people around the globe 40 years ago took the message more literally. As many viewed it, this ship was bringing its cargo of HOPE to communities where hope of any kind was too often in very short supply. In time it became a symbol of optimism and confidence that things could get better in these more beleaguered countries of the world.

View of the World Today

In the year 2000, 40 years later, we live in a world with MANY more people—virtually three billion more people than in 1960! Yet HOPE is still something that so very few people seem to have. Choose your problem: poverty, government corruption, starvation, drought, disease. All of these serious problems plague millions around the world.

At the present rate of infection, by 2010, a child born in the African country of Botswana can expect to live less than 30 years—the lowest life expectancy in 100 years! Men in several sub-Saharan countries will greatly outnumber women because of the AIDS crisis in that region (USA Today, July 2000).

New projections of the early deaths caused by the HIV epidemic in Africa released by the International Conference on AIDS conducted in South Africa in July indicate that children in Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe can expect to live only till their mid-30's. Life expectancy in several other developing countries is dropping fast, says the report by the U.S. Census Bureau—which maps the impact of AIDS.

Almost 34 million people who are infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies indicate that this 100 percent fatal disease will warp entire populations and nations, empty communities and set the stage for massive migrations of people. The continent of Africa has little HOPE for its future health and growth.

While we could go on about the desperate needs and suffering of tens of thousands in Africa and other developing areas around the world, the following questions beg an answer. Why do countless millions in the world have little or no hope for themselves or their countries' futures? Why is there...

• Little hope for good health?
• No hope for a government without corruption?
• Little hope for peace and non-violence?
• Little hope for getting out of abject poverty?

The reason for this lack of HOPE is because they see little or nothing that indicates that anything will change these corrupt, violent and abject human conditions. Many educated people realize things haven't changed in centuries and that the problems have only gotten more complex and difficult.

Hopelessness in the Western world

Citizens of developing countries are not the only ones facing lives without much purpose or real hope. Many adolescents in Western nations such as the United States are often "rudderless" in life, as well. Teenage suicide has increased in recent decades, particularly among middle class families. Much of the blame for this millennial generation of young adults who seem disoriented in their direction and purpose in life lies at the doorstep of a dynamically changing culture—a culture without the parental influence and guidance that previous generations took for granted.

Whatever the cause, and wherever the country—HOPE is a commodity that is in serious short supply.

Many Try to Help

Studies have shown that a certain percentage of teens and adolescents see these terrible conditions around the world and have an inner yearning to make a difference. Organizations like the Peace Corps have seen increased interest by young people who want to have an impact on the needs of their fellowman. Volunteerism in some sectors is increasing. Yet the fact is that most of mankind lives with understanding that little will change to make the human condition and survival prospects improve. Even so, there are some who courageously strive to do all they can in fighting the losing battles against malnutrition, disease, starvation and the ravages of violence and war.

How Humans Have Viewed HOPE

For so many over the centuries, the word hope has become a deceptive promise of something that never seems to come to pass. The French philosopher La Rochefoucauld said, "Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of life along an agreeable road." His statement shows that many believe that real hope is an elusive goal seldom reached in the world at large.

Journalist Robert Ingersoll said, "I suppose it can be truthfully said that hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity!" Ingersoll articulated what so many have come to conclude—that hope is something that many people need and yearn for during destitute, impoverished and war-torn times—but it is also something that seldom delivers any real change or improvement in life.

The Word of God and HOPE

The Bible tells us what these men and philosophers have come to know—that having hope dashed in the face of severe trial and suffering is often devastating to the human spirit. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

Today's world is one that has many insoluble difficulties, and yet one that continues to hold out "hope" that man will solve his conflicts, the scourge of rampant disease, and the proliferation of moral decadence and corruption. As you read this, politicians in the United States and many countries around the world are holding out promises for a better life, more prosperity and eventual peace.

God's Word, on the other hand, indicates that we live in a world that is destined to see its fate through to the brink of human destruction. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus Christ told His disciples almost 2,000 years ago that man would come short of self-destruction, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22).

What the Future Holds

God's Word reveals that all of humanity's efforts to solve our problems will unfortunately end in failure. While many on earth desire peace and prosperity, Satan influences the hearts of many people to satisfy themselves and ignore the needs of their fellowman.

God also reveals that the return of His Son, Jesus Christ, will usher in the only hope for humanity being saved from itself! The apostle Paul refers to Jesus Christ as "our hope" in 1 Timothy 1:1. The hope that Jesus Christ will bring is that of a new government based on the spiritual laws of God, administered by those who God calls now, in this life.

The prophet Isaiah was allowed to see, in vision, the beginning stages of this divine government in action. In Isaiah 2:2-3, we read, "And it shall come to pass in the latter days, That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go 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."

We read of a glorious time in the future when most people will choose to seek understanding and direction from their Creator about His law and its application to life! What a change that will be!

An amazing prophetic revelation also indicates that many nations will eventually choose to learn and apply the way of peace. They will no longer teach the carnage of human warfare and destruction that has defined humanity's efforts to get along with others and solve our problems over the millennia. As Isaiah explains, "He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).

If you would like to learn more about the hope God holds out for all inhabitants of this earth, request the free booklet, God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope For All Mankind.

What Does This Mean for You?

Many of you reading this article have an understanding of the plan of God and the real purpose that He has for people on earth. You understand that humanity is being held hostage to a way of life that is self-serving and opposed to the law and mind of God. Yet there are others of you who are just coming to prove these precious truths.

In either case, God lays before you an opportunity to lay the groundwork for that government and Kingdom that will ultimately usher in a time of peace and prosperity the likes of which this world has never seen! The apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Truly, most of humanity is clueless as to the bright future that is ahead. In the absence of that understanding, hopelessness, despair and apathy will increase in society and in the less-fortunate areas of this world. Most people on earth will just continue to assume that "this is all there is." Many will assume humanity is merely the result of random selection in the evolutionary process and that we are doomed to the fate that our species and all "evolved" life will bring upon themselves. What a hopeless and purposeless feeling!

Today, at a time when hope is in short supply, God is giving you a chance to become a part of the assembly of people that will assist Jesus Christ in the re-education and rebuilding of this world! Be sure that you don't ignore the great opportunity in front of you to be a giver of HOPE by being a tool in the hand of God now—preparing to be one of the pioneers in His great family and government in the world tomorrow! YU