You’re right, up to a point; on the surface the world certainly doesn’t seem to be getting any better. If one problem gets solved, others often take its place. Jesus warned that even in the last days there still would be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6).

But does this mean we should just give up and never try to make the world a better place? No, of course not. Yes, things may be bad, but how much worse would they be if we never tried to change them? After all, in some ways the world is better than it was a century ago; advances in medicine and technology (for example) have changed our lives. Don’t overlook the good that humanitarian aid organizations (such as Samaritan’s Purse, where my son Franklin serves as president) do either, often in the face of terrible suffering, wars and disaster.

In other ways, however, the world today isn’t much different from that of thousands of years ago. Wars, poverty, injustice and a host of other problems still rage over much of the earth, sometimes with even greater intensity than in the past.

What’s the problem? The problem is within each of us — within our own hearts and minds. As Jesus said, evil deeds come “from within, out of a person’s heart” (Mark 7:21). This is why we need Christ, for only He can change our hearts and replace our hatred with His love and compassion. Give your life to Him, and then ask Him to use you to bring hope to others in His name.

Find peace with God today.