Thought for the Day

The Bible records many wars throughout its pages. Many of them document the accuracy of Scripture, since archeology has uncovered artifacts that verify their records as recorded in the Bible. Why does God allow wars? What is the role of soldiers, and how can one reconcile taking the lives of other humans? When God created the earth and put man upon it, He said that it was all good - until man sinned and fell from that estate. Because we were given a free will and can choose to do good or evil, we now live in an environment where evil men and good men are at war.

God hates war, but it is necessary to maintain order in the earth and overcome those who would like to destroy good. In fact, the first war ever recorded was the war in heaven where Satan and his angels fought against God and his angels. We know this war was won by God. "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:7-9).

All forms of killing, terror, and death will be ended only when God's kingdom is established and men yield to God and His laws. For those who refuse to allow His reign in their lives, God has set governmental authorities in the earth to restrain evil by enforcing the laws of the land. Granted, the ruling authorities are imperfect and some are even evil, but without them evil would overcome the just and innocent. The time is soon coming when Jesus will return to this earth. At His second coming, the devil's followers will be destroyed, Satan will be chained in the abyss, and Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Imprisoned, Satan will no longer deceive the nations, so there will be no wars in the earth. We shall enter the Millennial Reign of Christ, when the earth shall rest from its tribulations. "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4).

May the King come quickly! Until He comes, God has instructed us to pray that His kingdom be manifested in our lives and communities. His kingdom is established when we allow Christ to reign in our everyday lives, thus affecting those around us with His love and grace. We can change corrupt leadership and bad laws by allowing God to use us in our spheres of influence, to make those changes. We must pray and become involved in the world to change it for the better.