Editor’s

Page

The Curse of Wars Will Cease

Wars and conflicts have existed for thousands and thousands of years. In the Old Testament nations warred against each other continually. Even within Israel, David’s son Absalom, tried to overthrow his father’s kingship and rallied so many followers that David had to flee for his life. Power and control at any cost are part of the curse of sin that man has inherited from Adam. Killing to gain power, wealth, and control has never left the earthly scene since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden. Many have asked, “Why does God allow this? Doesn’t He have the power to stop all these things?” God’s wisdom saw the permission of evil necessary and indeed, He has power that will, in His due time, say to the nations “Be still and know that I am God!”

The Prophet states in Isaiah 2:3-4: “Many peoples will come and say, ‘…let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Another prophet reiterates this same promise in Micah 4:2-4.

Though these promises are a sure thing and will indeed come to pass, why does God keep peace at a distance from mankind now? Sin always has its negative consequences. Supposedly, the nations of the earth claim they want peace, but they want it on their own terms and pursue it in their own way. They seek it by immersing themselves in man’s political, economic, psychological and philosophical theories, which they think, hold the keys to the world’s problems. When this fails, as it always does in time, it leaves them with nothing other than war, another consequence of sin. However, war never brings about a lasting peace, but only leaves behind misery, great loss of lives and many terribly disabled in body and spirit, with devastation of property and homes as well. Even the so-called victors’ lives are never the same. A price has been already paid to attain the so-called “victory,” if not physically, then mentally, and emotionally. Since we live in a sinful world, even those who are innocent and not directly responsible, feel the consequences of war’s devastation. Someone has aptly said, “Only the dead are free of the terror of wars.”

Selfishness is another consequence of sin. Selfishness is found associated with almost all of sin’s fruitage. If everyone were to live by

the “golden rule,” what a different world this would be! However, even when a temporary time of peace is being experienced, mankind has not used that time to glorify and praise God, but instead, most settle down to a life of self-seeking materialism, leading to other sins.

Is there a good reason why God does not step in right now to stop all wars and establish peace throughout the entire world? Yes, there is! It is only after men and women have experienced to the full the exceeding sinfulness of sin that they will be able to choose to seek God and the ways of righteousness. Psalm 36:1 aptly describes man’s present attitude: David said, “An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.” As the saying goes, “Experience is the best teacher.” One day this experience with sin will reach its climax and culminate in a time of trouble such as the world has never yet seen. At that time, the realization that God’s way is the only way will slowly sink in. 1 Corinthians 2:9 gives us a glimpse of what God has in mind, “However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Man has tried to establish Utopia many times throughout the ages in which he pictured the most ideal living conditions possible for human happiness and peace. As good as these intentions may have been to achieve such ideals, had they succeeded, they would have been short-lived. Why? Because the sinful nature of man would simply retreat back to the fallen, sinful ‘norm.’ Mankind needs a “heart transplant” and that is what they will have! What God has promised will be far beyond man’s best efforts, or anything he could ever conceive. We get an inkling of God’s plans in Revelation 21:1-4, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

When will this happen? It will happen when Jesus returns again to set up God’s Kingdom on this earth, for which Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as is done in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Can you imagine what it will be like when God’s will and only His will is done on this earth! It will be far beyond any Utopia that man could ever conceive. Even so! “Come Lord Jesus!” E. Weeks