Wrong side of history? In recent years I have heard secular people increasingly say that those who believe in God, the Bible, and biblical morality, will ultimately be proven to be on the wrong side of history. This usually comes up in debates over moral issues (abortion, LGBTQ+, etc.) where the secular position is that we are advancing in history to a place where “theism” and “religion” will not be necessary, and will in fact be proven to have been the cause of society’s problems, not the solution. Thus, “Christians” will then be proven to have been on the “wrong side of history.”
To that line of reasoning I say, please take the time to read and study the Bible. Particularly take the time to focus on prophetic Scriptures that have been fulfilled in every detail hundreds of years after the original prophecies were given. How is this possible? The God of the Bible is the God who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:8-13). Read the book of Daniel and learn about the major world empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome). Find out details of what would happen to them hundreds of years before they happened. Read hundreds of prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled perfectly in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. How is this possible? History is “His story.”
How does He say the story will end? What is the consummation? Who will be on the right side of history? Those who are in a reconciled relationship with the only true and living God. Those whose sins have been atoned for by the once-for-all perfect substitutionary death of Jesus. Those who have repented of their sins (living life their way), have put their trust in Jesus and all that He has done for them in His life, death, and resurrection, and are following Him as the Lord of their lives. They admit they have sinned (rebelled against God), cannot get to heaven through their own merit, and now put their trust in Jesus alone. They realize that Jesus didn’t come into their lives to go along for the ride; He came to take over.
The utopia that people are looking for was here once in Genesis 1-2. Mankind destroyed it by doing what seemed right instead of doing what God said. Because of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins, that utopia will be coming for some at the end of “history.” In Revelation 20-22 we read about what it will be like when forgiven, reconciled people are living in a right relationship with God and with others forever. We will be obedient to His commands from the heart and our relationships will be perfect. Who won’t be there? Those who reject His revealed will and do things their way (Rev. 22:15). They will be on the wrong end of history when they experience what they wanted all along, life apart from God. They will be in a place where they will no longer experience His common grace and goodness, but will endure His wrath forever.
Secularists in academics, politics, and the arts, may appear to have control of certain cultures for a certain period of time, but when history is consummated they will bow down and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and God (Phil. 2:9-11). Unfortunately, for most of them, it will be too late.
I am not afraid of (-phobic) nor do I hate people who disagree with the Scriptures; I love them. God has graciously changed my sinful heart and has given me a love for Him, and a love for my neighbor. That love compels me to speak the truth. This secular world system is passing away and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17). I love people enough to tell them that although it seems right to follow their natural impulses and desires, there is “a way that seems right to a man but the end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). Those who follow their impulses are in bondage; those who follow God’s truth are free (John 8:34-36).
For those who think they can claim to believe in Jesus while they practice a lifestyle of rebellion against His revealed will, God is very clear that they will not be in His eternal kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-13; Col. 3:5-7; Rev. 22:15). They may claim to know Him, but He will say that He never knew them (Mt. 7:21-23).
I am eternally grateful to Jesus for opening my eyes and setting me free from living my way. The greatest exhilaration I experience in life is when I do what I was created to do, walk in His ways, please Him, and bring Him glory. To that end, to my secular friends who believe theism and its concomitant moral beliefs are on the wrong side of history, I bring the same loving message that Jesus first preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 4:17). Then you can eternally be on the right side of history.