War

War is not a pleasant subject. In fact, I detest war. Why does anyone think that fighting and killing is the answer to conflict? The Civil War had to have been the worst war on American soil. People fought for their rights. But at what cost? And having lived in the south for a few years, I saw first hand that some people have never recuperated from the devastation. Animosities still run rampant.

My daddy fought in WWII. My uncle was killed in that war. My brother-in-law fought in Viet Nam. The scars of war are everywhere, and yet on and on the tragedy goes. Will it never end? Well, yes, praise God, it will.

The ancient prophet Micah recorded this: “He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3, NKJV). He is obviously referring to God. The time when that will come to pass? We don’t know. But if God said it, it will happen.

Here’s a more modern interpretation of that text: “He will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into plows    and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again (Good News Translation). Now doesn’t that sound marvelous?

There are lots of things about end times that we don’t understand. We have lots of questions. Some scholars think that they have it all figured out, but I think we are all in for lots of surprises. I’m just simple minded enough to trust God to bring His promises to pass in His timing. Oh, I hope it won’t be too long till then. I don’t know how much more war this world can handle. The apostle John saw a vision of an ominous war to come at Armageddon (see Revelation 16). It sounds horrible, but thank God, that will be the end of wars. And our King will reign in peace. God has it all figured out. We don’t have to be afraid. Doesn’t that fill you with hope in a seemingly hopeless world?