Wars and Rumours of Wars
Man likes to forget how evil he is. War is a grim reminder. While describing the sinfulness of man, Paul states in Romans 3:15-17, "Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known."
In Paul's time the swiftest means of bloodshed was a horse-drawn war chariot or a Roman galley, powered by slaves. Man has come far since then.
Now he can sit in his comfortable control room hidden beneath a mountain and direct a rocket to the far side of the earth. Within a few hours multiple warheads are falling on various cities, where people live, where children play in the streets. With just one of his bombs he can destroy the heart of a little country like Belgium. From a plane he can drop bombs and watch the smoke of destruction billowing toward the sky. He only hears the whine of the engines. He's too far away to hear the moaning and the weeping of those who were left alive in the rubble. In a tank he can ride at 100 kilometres per hour and demolish a house with one shell. From a hovering helicopter he can shower deadly bullets like rain upon his fellow man. A pilot in Vietnam had painted on his helicopter: "Killing is our business. Business is fine." Or, if he wants to really see what he is accomplishing, he can hold a machine gun and rip the entrails from a whole crowd of people within a few seconds.
Yes, man has come far since Paul's day. "Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known."
In Old Testament times even God's people were involved in bloody wars of destruction. They longed for peace, just as we do. And God gave them a promise. Through the prophet Isaiah, in chapter two, verse four, God spoke of a time when the word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem and when those who go up to the mountain of the Lord would learn war no more.
At the proper time, God sent His Son to teach us the ways of peace. Since then nearly two thousand years have passed. Now millions give lip service to His words but few really do what He says.
What does Jesus say about war? Let us read from Matthew 24:6-8. "And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
"Wars and rumours of wars," that's human history in a nutshell. When men are not busy fighting a war, they are busy preparing for one.
And fear is the natural reaction to war. When we recall the turmoil and destruction of recent wars - when we then must seriously consider the possibility, if not the probability, of a nuclear war in which one third of the earth's population might easily be wiped out, our hearts skip a beat and our blood runs cold.
Yet Jesus says: "See that you are not troubled," "Do not be afraid". But how is this possible? How can we not be frightened by the thought of a bomb charred earth and immeasurable suffering and devastation?
The answer is found in the basic attitudes Jesus taught us to have toward God, toward this world, and toward our fellow man.
I. War does not alarm a Christian because he trusts in the providence of God.
With the Psalmist we can say: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1,2).
"Do not be afraid." These words are written for us more than 25 times in the New Testament.
Even in difficult times the Christian knows, as Paul states in Romans 8:28, "that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35).
"So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Heb. 13:6).
The words of Jesus are written on our hearts: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Luke 8:50).
Our Lord is Ruler of the kings of the earth. And what does the King of kings and the Lord of lords tell us? "And when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled" (Mark 13:7).
II. War does not alarm a Christian because his mind is not set on things of this world.
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1-3).
A Christian is not bound by worldly possessions. Many people loose their lives in war because they try to stay with, protect or save their material goods.
In connection with the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples to disregard their possessions: "Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes" (Mat. 24:16-18).
Christians are not to be alarmed by war, but they are instructed to flee the dangers of war, without regard for their material possessions.
When a Christian's property is destroyed or confiscated, he does not react as worldly men do. As we read in Hebrews 10:34, "You had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven".
A Christian is not alarmed at the thought of his property being destroyed or confiscated in war because his true wealth cannot be taken away. His treasures are laid up in heaven.
Because a Christian sets his mind on things above, he is not even alarmed at the thought of losing his physical life.
As Jesus says in Luke 12:4-5, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"
A Christian has already died to this world in Christ. He has eternal life. He is not alarmed at the thought of being killed, because his life is hid with Christ in God.
War is a carnival of Satan. But Satan has no power over the Christian. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death'" (Revelation 12:10,11).
With Paul, a Christian can say: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). And, as Paul says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
A Christian does not war against his fellowman, even for spiritual values, much less for physical life and worldly goods, because his citizenship is in heaven. As Jesus told Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36).
A Christian does not war against his fellowman because he is engaged in a nobler battle, a battle not against nations or men but against evil. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds."
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul tells us to put on the whole armour of God. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (verse 12). The armour of God protects us against the evils of war.
The Christian is not deceived by the false propaganda of war, because his loins are girded with truth.
He is not carried along with the unrighteousness of war, because he wears the breastplate of righteousness.
He has peace in the midst of war, because his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
He is not overcome by fears and doubts, because he holds the shield of faith.
He does not fear destruction, because he wears the helmet of salvation.
He does not dread the sword of man, because he wields the sword of the Spirit.
War is an attempt to overcome evil with evil, at best; or at worst, an attempt to overcome good with evil. Because a Christian sets his mind on things above, he is able to overcome evil with good. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; If he thirsts, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17-21).
War does not alarm a Christian because he trusts in the providence of God. His mind is not set on things of this world. He is not bound to worldly possessions or even to physical life. His citizenship is in heaven. He overcomes evil with good. Because of these attitudes, he is able to obey the words of Christ: "When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately" (Luke 21:9).
III. A Christian is not alarmed by war because he loves his fellowman.
Because of his love, he is a peacemaker, not a warmonger. And when are peacemakers more needed than in times of war."Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Mat. 5:9).
In 1 John 4:18 we read: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." When we hate our enemies, we fear them. When we love our enemies and do good to them we have foiled Satan and overcome fear.
How does Jesus say we should treat our enemies? Are we to shoot them? Drop bombs on their cities? Poison their water supply? "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Mat. 5:43-48). With this attitude toward our enemies, war becomes a special opportunity to do good and to demonstrate to the world that we are truly followers of Christ.
This was a difficult lesson for Peter to learn.
He was ready to fight and to die for Jesus. To defend Christ he cut off a man's ear (and he probably was aiming for something more than the man's ear).
Jesus reprimanded Peter and healed the man - a man who had come out to arrest Him that He might be condemned to die.
Peter had learned to love his Lord. But he had not yet learned to love his enemy. And because his love was weak, Peter was afraid. He was so afraid that he denied Christ three times, rather than admit that he had been in the garden.
Like Peter, many Christians have learned to love the Lord but they have not yet learned to love their enemies. They place their trust in worldly force instead of in the providence of God. And they are afraid of war.
And, Christians who participate in war have reason to be afraid. The command and warning which Jesus gave to Peter, applies to them as well: "Put your sword in its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Mat. 26:52). This warning is repeated in Revelation 13:10: "He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword."
But Peter learned his lesson. He put away his sword. And many years later he penned these words:
"For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin nor was guile found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:19-23).
"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled" (1 Peter 3:13,14).
IV. Conclusion
As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 8:8, "There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it" (RSV).
"Wars and rumours of wars," machine guns, tanks, helicopters, hydrogen bombs, poison gas, biological warfare - there is no escape from war. War will be with us until that Day when the Father says: "Enough," and a new age begins.
In the meantime Christians are not afraid. We trust in the providence of God. Our treasures are laid safely away in heaven. We do not account our lives as dear unto ourselves, if only we may serve the Lord during the time He gives us. For us to live is Christ and to die is gain. We fight the good fight of faith. With all our might we fight against the evils of this world using only that which is good. We love our enemies, and we follow Christ to the cross, and beyond the cross to the eternal city where rumours of wars shall be heard no more.
"And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Mat. 24:6-13).
Roy Davison