As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we know “deep down inside” that God’s purposes will be fulfilled, no matter what the plans and movements of man. God’s counsels were made in a past eternity, and nothing that man does in time can change them. They have always been fulfilled perfectly in the past, and prophecies for the future in the Word of God have always been accomplished according to God’s time. However, in the uncertain and chaotic world of today it may happen that even believers find that their hearts are “failing them for fear,” as they are “looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:2626Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:26)). And there is certainly plenty, humanly speaking, about which to be concerned.
North Korea
Probably the most serious problem is the current confrontation between the U.S. and North Korea, for the ramifications of this are enormous. Between 2006 and 2017, North Korea has tested six nuclear devices, and it appears that there are more to come. Its leader Kim Jong Un has consistently directed his aggressive rhetoric against the U.S., while from their side, American leaders have given warnings that North Korea cannot be allowed to build weapons that threaten American territory. China, the only country with the real potential to “rein in” its belligerent neighbor, is not anxious for a face-off with the U.S., but neither is it happy to see a strong American presence in East Asia. While China is enforcing some U.N. trade sanctions against North Korea, it appears to be trying to placate America, but without causing enough pressure to make North Korea collapse. If forced into a conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump has promised “fire and fury such as the world has never seen,” while James Mattis, current U.S. Secretary of Defense, has commented that a Korean conflict would “probably be the worst kind of fighting in most people’s lifetimes.” Another senior administration official in the U.S. government has predicted that 2018 will be “a very dangerous year,” while still another official has stated that “the potential for conflict is very high.”
Superpower Status
But there are other reasons for hostile behavior between the great powers of China, Russia, and the U.S. Ever since the end of World War II, the U.S. has enjoyed superpower status, and it has had the strongest economy and military in the world. With changes in technology and methods of warfare, this supremacy is being challenged. The collapse of the Soviet Union stung Russia, and especially its current leader, Vladimir Putin. After the Soviet Union crumbled, Putin was greatly angered that Russia seemed to be relegated to a position of strategic irrelevance by the rest of the world. Since coming to power, his objective has been to put Russia into “great power” status once again. Likewise China, for different reasons, has “come of age” and wants to exert its influence in its part of the world. While neither Russia nor China is presently in a position to challenge the U.S. in a real way, they are practicing what has been termed “hybrid warfare.” In the words of one official, this consists of actions that “reap some of the political and territorial gains of military victory without crossing the threshold of overt war.” Such warfare is conducted in ways that make it difficult to nail down the real responsible party, using such tactics as cyberattacks, sabotage, proxy forces, propaganda, and perhaps economic blackmail.
Russia and China
Russia is exerting its influence in places like the Ukraine and other former Eastern Bloc countries, while China is asserting its control over the South China Sea, even to the point of constructing artificial islands which are then strongly fortified. All of this is intended to weaken Western and particularly American influence in Russian and Chinese orbits and to give them a stronger place in the world.
The Middle East
Finally, there is the Middle East, a boiling pot that threatens constantly to boil over. Syria is in chaos, with many different nations getting involved. Recently Turkey, with the second-biggest army in NATO, opened a new front in this war, going after the Kurdish insurgents that border Turkey. The Palestinian problem continues, with shaky regimes in places like Egypt and Iraq as well. In addition, there are many other “hot spots” in the world, sparked by the nationalism of various ethnic groups or disputes over certain pieces of territory. We see indeed “the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:2525And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)), although we realize that the full-blown manifestation of this awaits a time after the church is called home. (The sea in Scripture generally typifies the nations of the world in restless motion.) The complexity of modern warfare, combined with the ability of terrorists to wreak havoc in almost any part of the world, has quite naturally left many wondering if there is any safe place left in the world.
Public and Private Debt
Up to this point we have considered mainly the chances of military conflict, but there are other major and equally serious problems in the world. Public and private debt remain a key issue in most Western countries, with governments having to deal with ever-increasing deficits, while credit cards and other easy methods of living beyond one’s means have caused astronomical increases in private debt. Eventually a reckoning day must come, but few are willing to face it. While government debt often “grabs the headlines,” it is private debt that is much larger in the world today and is far more economically serious. Yet few are willing to take the bitter medicine which is needed as a remedy.
Moral Decline
Perhaps more serious than all of these things is the moral decline, especially in countries that have known the Word of God and have had Christian backgrounds. Leaders seek to deal with the problems, only to have their careers ruined by the exposure of some serious immoral or illegal behavior in their past. Personal and corporate integrity is fast disappearing, with many simply doing as little as possible in their jobs, while serving their own ends. Where once righteousness was commonplace, “situational ethics” has become the way of dealing with matters. In Canada, a recent decision by the Supreme Court of the province of Ontario admitted that a particular law did indeed infringe on the individual’s right to religious freedom, yet at the same time ruled that the law placed a ”reasonable limit on religious freedom, demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”
God’s Rule
Where does all this leave the Christian? We are reminded of a remark made well over 100 years ago by a well-taught brother. He said, “God’s ways are behind the scenes, but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this and let Him work, and not think much of man’s busy movements: They will accomplish God’s; the rest of them all perish and disappear. We have only in peace to do His will.” The world is truly in a serious condition, and we cannot deny it. However, we must also remember that right at the beginning of the times of the Gentiles, God humbled Nebuchadnezzar to the point where he said, “The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Dan. 4:1717This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)). Over the centuries since that time, God has generally worked out His purposes by allowing the basest of men to rule. We can be thankful for some exceptions to this, but for the most part, rulers in the times of the Gentiles have not been God-fearing and upright men.
We know that during the so-called church period, it is not God’s purpose to resume the reins of government in the earth. That will come when Christ comes to reign, but not before. However, God has not left the earth to wallow in wickedness with no government. How then does He do this? Let us quote from a well-known writer of the nineteenth century:
“He controls them, not by acting directly, so as to maintain the testimony of His character and His ways, but by means of instruments whom He employs, the result of whose activity is according to His will. The only wise God can do this, for He knows all things and directs all things to the accomplishment of His purposes. This is the reason that we see all sorts of things morally in disagreement with His ways in government, which yet succeed: a chaos as to the present, but the issue of which will furnish a clue, that will make manifest a wisdom even more profound and admirable than that which was displayed in His own immediate government in Israel, perfect as this was in its place.”
An Intelligent Outlook
The true Christian is the only one who can look out on the condition of this world with real intelligence. He knows where it will end and knows that, despite the turmoil and seeming confusion, God is in control and is working out His purposes amidst it all. The plans and even the wrath of man may be evident, but we read that “surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain” (Psa. 76:1010Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (Psalm 76:10)). God is keeping man from the full extent of his evil purposes, in order that His will may be accomplished.
Many years ago a group of artists was challenged as to who could paint a picture most accurately depicting the theme “peace.” A prize was offered for the best painting that was produced. When the results were put on display, there were many charming scenes. Some were of a sunset over calm water, some were of a pretty meadow, some of a calm lake with trees reflected in it, and some of beautiful gardens. But the one that won the prize portrayed a terrible storm on a seashore, with a strong wind blowing, lightning zig-zagging through the sky, and waves crashing on the rocks. In the midst of all this, there was a crevice in the rock cliff on the shore, in which was a small bird singing its heart out. This was real peace—made more evident by the contrast with everything around.
Peace
Thus the believer can walk through this world with peace in his heart: peace as to his eternal salvation and peace as to his circumstances. This does not mean that we will necessarily have an easy path; no, we have been promised tribulation in this world, and also persecution. But Paul could say that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:1818For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)). The suffering is temporary—for a moment—while the glory is eternal.
More than this, if we accept our circumstances from the Lord, we may take our difficulties to the Lord. Again, this does not mean that we will obtain instant relief from the circumstances, but we can have peace about them, knowing that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)). It is worth it to go through hard circumstances, for it is then that we enjoy more intimate communion with the Lord. Truly, as Paul could remind the Corinthian believers, “All things are yours ... the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours” (1 Cor. 3:2222Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; (1 Corinthians 3:22)).
W. J. Prost