While discussing the possibility of another war, I remarked to my husband that I feared our younger people don't have the self-discipline and fortitude to stand up to its demands. I feared they just wouldn't be able to handle it.
The answer my husband gave me was a surprise. Having lived through World War II both as an citizen in war-torn England and as a Royal Marine commando throughout the Middle East, I realized he knew what he was talking about.
My husband replied, "Oh yes, I am sure they would. It would be the answer to the very thing they lack today--a purpose in life. They need a leader like Winston Churchill to challenge them with a goal to be attained."
Perhaps this is one reason true Christians are happy people. They have a goal. They know that end-times are here, and that while theologians differ about the order of events, they all agree that in the end God will have His way and sin will be destroyed forever. Much suffering will take place in order that the war can be won, but in the end "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil.2:10). When we pray the prayer Jesus told us to pray "Thy Kingdom come" (Matt.6:10), we are praying that the days be hastened for this to take place. We are praying for the war to be speeded up.
God would be very happy to speed this day, as this is also what He desires. There is only one problem: God gave man a free will to choose how he wants to live and He is giving him time to see the folly of his own attempts to change the world with his governments and institutions. He is showing us these just won't work as long as man insists on leadership without His guidance.
Divine judgment is falling today. Only in the midst of famines, earthquakes, and wars can people be brought to their knees because when all is going well, we see no need for God.
God's nature is all love and, because of this, He has been delaying our just rewards for our arrogance and rebellion against Him. He is giving us a few short years to repent, and to tell the whole world the Good News of salvation and of His soon return. The Bible tells us the gospel will first be preached to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt 24:14).
There is a war to be fought. We do have a goal. This war is not one of guns and bombs; it is a spiritual war to win the world for Jesus Christ. We become faint-hearted thinking about the hordes massed against us, and we are so few, but the Almighty God of the universe has always won the battles of His own people. In the end He will establish an earthly society where "there shall be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Rev 21:2-4 NIV).
The good news that Jesus Christ is Lord must be carried to the ends of the earth. We need something worth fighting for. Let us get on with it!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer
