Will there Be Peace on Earth?

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“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”  – Luke 12:51

It was a crisp night in the small town of Bethlehem.  The stars in the sky were brilliant and the moon lit up the desert hills.  In the distance you could hear the bleating of sheep, the noise of the crowds in the city center, fire crackling here and there as stander-bys warmed their hands.  When the young couple enter into the city, tired from a long journey of nearly 100 miles on foot.  Several days if not a week or more, by donkey, over the hills, mountain passes and desert terrain. 

In that day, the people of Judah were expecting a Saviour, a King to rule for them against the tyranny of the Roman Empire.  What they weren’t expecting was a baby, born in the humble setting of an animal stable.  Lying among the hay, troughs and obvious animals in that stable; Mary gave birth to the King of the Jews, the Messiah, and our Saviour.  It was anything but peaceful on that first Christmas Eve.  The city was abuzz, the crowds had amassed, and the Romans were taking a census.  Thieves ran to and fro through the night.  Marketers sold their goods to the passersby for exorbitant fees, ladies sold themselves for the company of another.  God, stepped into the world amidst the chaos of the world, and set out on a path of redemption that would take 32 years (or so) to complete.

Did Jesus come into this world to bring peace?  No, not at all.  He came into this world to bring justice, to bring salvation, to bring a hope of redemption for the evil that lives in this world.  He came to separate the chaff from the grain on the threshing floor (Matt 3:12) of man’s heart, and burn the chaff in an unquenchable fire.  The division Christ speaks of is between the righteous and the unrighteous, between the good and the evil. 

I hear from the world today, if God, then why….. (fill in the blank).  Why death, why suffering, why poverished, why sick, why fired, why rape, why evil, why floods, why earthquakes, and so on.  It’s as if they believe because God is love, then God wouldn’t allow these things.  What they fail to recall is that mankind is inherently evil, and only through God can they become good.  Man must choose right or wrong in every situation.  We make decisions, or others make decisions that influence us, which instinctively lead to an outcome.  God is Love.  Could He, as the single omnipotent, sovereign authority wave His hand and make it all go away?  Yes.  Then why doesn’t He? 

His timetable is infinite and His existence is eternal.  Romans 8:28 tells us: He works all things to His good.  We may not and often times do not understand the how or what, but with faith in His eternal plan, we can know that this is true.  I don’t know why some things happen, but I do know that God wants our love and worship; and this is evidenced by His action in sending Jesus Christ as a single means of redemption.  We are given every opportunity to accept Him and turn from evil, and by doing so, find an eternal peace.  So, no, there will never be Peace on Earth.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2018
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Questioning Life

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“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” – Hebrews 6:10

There was a gentlemen who was struggling with an area of his life and he had pent up frustration and aggravation with God.  He had a faith in Christ for years, but was recently feeling abandoned by his Savior.  Where had God been in this area of his life to allow the pain and loneliness to set in.  For years, this gentlemen had helped the homeless in his spare time.  He went out of his way to ensure that one of his families friends, (a single mother with 3 children), was always taken care of regarding food and utilities.  This man had mentored teens away from a troubled life and introduced many people to the Christ that he loved so dearly.

With these and so many other accomplishments he had impacted the lives of hundreds of people in the name of Christ.  With this report card in his back pocket, he was completely caught off guard when a letter came that shook his spiritual life.  His faith was rocked, so to speak, by news in that letter, and he found himself blaming God that night and ever since.  This feeling that God had abandoned him sank more deeply into his mind and spirit. 

This man could easily be you or your husband, brother or friend.  His situation is no different than that of millions of people every day.  Not one of us is immune to painful and hurtful situations.  Your spouse has an affair, your kids are doing drugs, you have an accident which leads to a law suit and you lose everything, you lose your job and can’t find another, the list goes on.  It’s easy to fall into a feeling of self-pity, and look for someone to blame when struggles fall upon us.  It’s just as easy to turn away from God in anger, disappointment and resentment.  After all, how could He have let you suffer when you have done so many good things.  Have you ever been there?  We read in Hebrews that God will not forget all that you have done for others in His name.  God is just and will keep His promise to you.  It states a few verses later: “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”  These struggles are to remind you whom you are placing your trust in.  He instructs us that we are to continue to be faithful, patient and diligent in our efforts on His behalf.  Through these struggles we are given the opportunity to strengthen our walk with the Lord or to turn away from it and rely solely on our own inherent ability to deal with them.  I propose the maker of heaven and earth has a better plan than you do.  Be blessed.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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