Today’s world is filled with great affliction, violence, and corruption. Habakkuk’s world, in the 7th century B.C., was the same in many ways. We, along with Habakkuk, might be tempted to look around and complain and cry out:

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? 3 Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. 4 This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. (Hab. 1:2-4, CSB)

From our vantage point, everything seems messy and, at times, out of control. Is there hope that things will change? From God’s vantage point, the great injustice and corruption that plague our world shall all pass away.

One day—in His appointed time—God will judge evil in all its forms. When it’s all set and done, the whole earth will know about God and what He’s all about (2:14). All of man’s injustices and corruption—and what he has accomplished through them—will come to nothing (v. 13).

Just like Habakkuk in his day, we are called today to walk by faith (v. 4) in who God is and what He has promised, despite the injustice around us. God’s vision for the future will come to pass (v. 3), even if it takes a long time. And when everything does not function the way it should, we can rejoice in the God of our salvation (3:17-18). He’s the one who will strengthen us and make us reach new heights (v. 19) in the midst of the chaos all around us. Why?

The ultimate righteous one, Jesus Christ, has dealt with the greatest injustice of all—our sin and rebellion against our Creator. By turning away from our sin and by following Jesus, we have and are coming to know God and this knowledge has, is, and will transform us for the better.

There is hope that this life-changing knowledge of God will spread throughout the earth, transforming countless individuals and families from every people group and language. As Habakkuk cried out, “Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy!” (3:2)

We aim to live life in light of God’s vision for the future by knowing God ourselves and making Him know anywhere and everywhere by the power and love that He generously supplies to those who trust in Him.

God’s glory—the knowledge of the sum total of His attributes—will cover the whole earth and bring about His original plan to fruition, namely, to bless all the nations of the earth through salvation in Jesus Christ (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:13-14; Rom. 4:13-25).

Next time you’re in front of an ocean (or a large body of water), remember the promise that one day the knowledge of God’s glory will cover the earth in an unmeasurable and unfathomable way.

I want my life to point to God’s glory. Here and now. How about you? Is your life pointing to God’s glory and what He has, is, and will accomplish to redeem this world of ours?

P.S. For more on the life and book of Habakkuk, check out these free resources from The Bible Project here. You can watch their amazing animated video below: