What or whom is your hope in?
Humanity has generally depended on their own wisdom. Solomon was the wisest man who had ever lived in his day...yet he found that the wisdom and reason of men cannot change the fact that both good and wicked men have the same fate as animals, they die and return to dust.
"Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.” I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.” For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Humanity has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?" (Ecclesiastes 3:16-21)
Humanity has attempted to bring about various utopian ideas to govern themselves, but they all fail. We are in the process of seeing the latest attempt as we watch the decline of the USA into a secular socialist mess.
Humanity's wisdom, whether it is a democracy or autocracy, philosophy or theology, capitalism or statism - they all fail to bring unity and peace to the world.
So what is the alternative to trusting in the reason and wisdom of humanity? Solomon gives us some of his wisdom on this as well.
So what is the alternative to trusting in the reason and wisdom of humanity? Solomon gives us some of his wisdom on this as well.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:5-12)
Trusting God works for me! Faith that there is a good God is a sure foundation for my hope. I find in the Bible that He loves me and all others, and because of His love and Grace, humanity cannot miss His goal of eventual perfection in an age to come, regardless of how much it fails in this present age. This faith in God sustains me in the midst of a world which seems has little faith in its Creator.
"And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” (Revelation 21:5-7)
And the one who "overcomes" - who is that?
"Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:5)
"God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." ( Philippians 2:9-10)