While the world debates the wisdom of a Korean truce the Christian may quietly and confidently rest, knowing that the short and long-range outcomes are all in the hand of his Father. Many people seriously doubt that a cease-fire agreement reached with the communists of North Korea, China, and (not too indirectly with) Russia, can be trusted when these nations have shown such perfidy in their international agreements in the past. Others feel that a truce there may be but the prelude to a greater war, perhaps in some other quarter.
We know from the Word of God that war and not peace is in store for this poor world. God has a controversy with it, for it cast out His beloved Son. He may speak to it as He did to Cain when he murdered his righteous brother, "What hest thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground." Gen. 4:1010And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. (Genesis 4:10).
The dreadful hour of trial is soon to come upon the whole habitable world to try them that dwell upon the earth, but we have the assurance that we will be kept from the hour of it, not preserved through it (Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)). Our blessed hope is the coming of the Lord. Soon, very soon, we shall hear His voice calling us to "Come up hither."
But while we are in our pilgrimage and made to feel in some measure the character of the world through which we pass, we can certainly thank God for any cessation of hostilities in Korea, or any other part of the world. It may be but a temporary lull before the full fury of the storm breaks, but surely we can be thankful for any respite. It means a little less sorrow for some dear Christians, and a little less suffering for humanity; in fact, for the animate creation also. It may prolong the opportunities of accepting the grace of God for some who might be cut off suddenly in war, but the sad part of it is that in general men use any period of peace to indulge their own desires, and forget God.
We are exhorted that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;.. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 1 Tim. 2:1, 21I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:1‑2). May we not neglect to use any period of peace for the pursuit of godliness, and not be like the unconverted who seem to forget God in proportion to the measure of their own earthly blessings.
However, let us not make any mistake in, supposing that man can bring settled peace to the earth. The time for "peace on earth" has not yet come, and will not come until He comes who alone has been designated God's King (Psalm 2). A time is coming when out of great agitation and confusion men will suppose that they have perfected a formula for peace, and then "they shall say, Peace and safety," supposing that they have reached their goal, only to find that sudden destruction shall come upon them, from which they shall not escape (1 Thess. 5:33For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)).
But after those years of great tribulation, and the judgments at the hand of the Son of man when He comes to reign, peace shall be brought to fruition. It will then be true that "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire." Psalm 46:99He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. (Psalm 46:9). "When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?" Job 34:2929When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: (Job 34:29).
The great contrast between the strivings of the nations and His acts of power are clearly distinguished in another verse in Psalm 46: "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted." v. 6. He will have but to utter His voice to accomplish His purposes. It reminds us of that memorable scene in the garden of Gethsemane when the armed mob came with all their weapons of violence to take the lowly Jesus; He had but to utter His voice and they were overcome.
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He.... As soon as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground." John 18:4-64Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (John 18:4‑6).
The struggle for power goes on in high places of the Russian government. This was to be expected, for man away from God has a burning ambition for self-exaltation, and a ruthless disregard for others who may stand in his way. It is an old, old story which dates back almost to the beginning of history. Ever since man ruled over his fellow men a struggle for power has gone on. Plots, intrigues, murders, and assassinations have been used by those in power and by those who sought it. Many such cases are recorded on the pages of inspiration; the Old Testament tells a sad story of these things taking place in the kingdom of Israel, and in those kingdoms which occasionally had some contact with Israel.
The sudden arrest and purge of Lavrenti P. Beria from his place of power removed one of the three top contenders for the exalted position once held by Josef Stalin. Thus a man who had most cruelly executed and murdered many thousands finally faces the same fate. Even in this life a man's deeds often overtake him, but the solemn fact is that the One whom he has despised "is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
There is no telling what convulsions may yet take place within Russia, but nothing is apt to change her course. The lust for world domination is deeply rooted in all those who might be able to seize the power. The rest of the world may breathe a little easier while the struggle in Russia goes on, but we must not forget what God has told us of her dealing treacherously (Isa. 33). God is working out His purposes, and already Russia has pushed the Western Powers into close collaboration, and as she continues to exert her force, the coming federation of Western Europe as the revived Roman Empire, with the backing of the Americas, comes closer. These things do not take place over night and time is required to condition the thinking of the nations to accept a supernational organization to which the individual state must be secondary.
How different was the Lord Jesus as a man down here from the common story of man in his lust for power! Not only did He not seek a place of power or exaltation, but said when urged to act as a judge, "Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?" When the devil offered Him the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, He promptly refused all. When the people who benefited by His feeding them with bread wanted to make Him a king, He retired. He refused all power and glory from men and from Satan, but one day (not far distant) He will receive supreme dominion from God's hand, even as it is said in the second psalm, "Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." God has said unto Him, "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies
Thy footstool." Psalm 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1). He who humbled Himself has been given "a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11).