Watch out for negativity bias.
Jesus said these often forgotten words about the Kingdom in Luke. This has an impact on the Christian view. If it is only the afterlife and you believe the world is still under a curse, wouldn’t it inhibit awareness of the Kingdom at hand?to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.””
Luke 4:17-21 NRSV
So, this is both then, now and to come. The Kingdom is advancing. Antichrists are still everywhere but so is the advancements. Politicians and media know that the tender heart is drawn to the pain. We cannot, at times, stop looking then we can lose our hope. We are not waiting on Good News. It is now. The Kingdom ushers people of goodwill to fight for justice, equality and love with God’s help. But we do not fight like the world. Sometimes, it appears as if love has been defeated. This is impossible.
The Kingdom is advancing.
Check our these encouraging statistics from the Book:
Factfulness by Hans Rosling
This doesn’t mean all is perfectly well by far. This is encouragement to fight the good fight by love, dialog and common humanity. Keep going so that when Christ does return He will find us faithful by His grace.
For some reason God allows the wheat and tares grow together in this Kingdom. Undoubtedly, it has something to do with love. Take heart for He has overcome the world. Even if the evidence has to be sought. The systems of the world are self-protective so they attempt to cloud the beauty. If you seek you will find is what the Lord told us. We can trust this, seriously.
Be encouraged. The Kingdom of God is within you.