At the time of the writing of this article, the U.S. and Russia have just signed another disarmament treaty, seeking to reduce the stockpile of nuclear weapons in each country. Other nations like Japan have applauded this move, and once again there is optimism that progress is being made toward world peace. However, all this is being done against a backdrop of continued anxiety over Iran, the constant threat of terrorist attacks in many areas, and very strained relations between some of the world’s great powers. Several years ago, the U.S. used its military might to deal with Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but now finds itself saddled with an unstable and explosive state of affairs for which there is no good solution. These are major problems, but there are many more minor “trouble spots” in the world, any one of which has the potential to flare up and cause serious difficulties. One thing that keeps it all in check is the realization that the world economy of today is very interdependent and that any serious conflict would disrupt the well-being of every nation. Also, the major powers know that there would be no winners in such a conflict, for an all-out war would be waged with frightful weapons of mass destruction.
Rhetoric and Ideals
Over the centuries, many men have issued so-called “words of wisdom” on the subject of peace, with high-sounding rhetoric and lofty ideals. However, Mark Twain, an ungodly man, made the following observation with singular insight:
“Peace by persuasion has a pleasant sound, but I think we should not be able to work it. We should have to tame the human race first, and history seems to show that that cannot be done.”
Another has aptly remarked that very few people choose war. Rather, they choose selfishness, and the result is war. Unhappily, this has been the history of mankind, for since the fall of man, he has been characterized by selfishness, a selfishness that will go to war to achieve its ends. The Word of God recognizes this too, for we read in Ecclesiastes 3:88A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:8), “A time of war, a time of peace.” This in no way implies God’s approval of war, but rather is the observation of Solomon as to the normal course of events in this world, as men seek to do their own will.
The World Wars
As the world has developed more devastating and lethal weapons, attempts at world peace have become more strenuous. When the awful carnage of the First World War shocked the world (military casualties were more than thirty million, to say nothing of civilian deaths), U.S. President Woodrow Wilson spearheaded the creation of the League of Nations to try and settle disputes between nations in a peaceful manner. When it failed and the Second World War resulted in even greater casualties (more than sixty million, including military and civilian deaths), the United Nations was formed.
It must be admitted that the United Nations seems to have been somewhat successful, in that the world’s major powers have not engaged in direct armed conflict since its formation. They have come perilously close, as in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, but have avoided actual war. However, it is questionable whether the United Nations has been the main deterrent. The knowledge that any conflict would likely involve nuclear weapons has likely done more to keep the major powers from all-out war, and the formation of organizations like NATO, with its massive military power, has tended to keep any one nation from significant aggression.
All of this, however, has not changed man’s heart. Smaller wars have taken place from time to time, and more recently nations like Iraq, Iran and North Korea have indicated their willingness to practice “brinkmanship” in their attempts to make their mark in the world. In some of the events of the past fifteen or twenty years, it is clear that it is only God’s intervention that has prevented a disaster from occurring.
God’s Son Came Into the World
When the Lord Jesus was born into this world, the angelic hosts could say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men” (Luke 2:1414Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14) JND). God had not had pleasure in man since the fall, for he was a sinner, but now that Christ had come into the world, God’s eye could, for the first time since the fall, rest with pleasure on a man in this world. More than this, God had purposed in a past eternity that Christ should inherit all things as man, for as Son of Man, God has “put all things in subjection under His feet” (Heb. 2:88Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)). If man in the first creation had utterly failed, God was going to set His Son as Head of new creation.
But man rejected the Son of God and said, “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:1414But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:14)). The Lord Jesus offered Himself as the rightful King to the Jewish nation and ultimately to this world, but the response was, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:1515But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. (John 19:15)). The words spoken at His birth by the angels are often sung today in so-called Christmas carols, but in view of man’s continued warfare, they have a hollow ring. But are God and man to be denied the peace that His Son came to give man? Was it all for nothing?
Peace in Heaven
No, for God will never be frustrated in His purposes. As the rejection of Christ became more and more pronounced, He had to say to His disciples, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Luke 12:5151Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (Luke 12:51)). Shortly before He went to the cross, when the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt, the multitude of His followers gave vent to their praise, no doubt by the leading of the Spirit of God, saying, “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:3838Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. (Luke 19:38)). This would be the immediate result of His work on the cross, for if there were to be peace on earth, the question of sin must first be settled. Thank God, as a result of that work, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psa. 85:1010Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10)). Peace has been made in heaven, for the righteous claims of a holy God have been fully satisfied.
Preaching Peace
As a result of this propitiation of God, He has sent out His servants “preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all)” (Acts 10:3636The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) (Acts 10:36)). He has “made peace through the blood of His cross” to “reconcile all things unto Himself” (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)), but in the meanwhile, God is preaching peace to those who will come, owning themselves as sinners and accepting His Son as Saviour. As the blessed result of there being “peace in heaven,” all who believe can have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Those who belong to Christ in this day of His grace will inherit heavenly blessings and spend eternity with Him there.
World Peace
But what about world peace? Is the world to go on in conflict and bloodshed? Yes, until iniquity is fully ripe and God intervenes. We read in Isaiah 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9), “When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” God has decreed, concerning His Son who was once rejected as King, “Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion” (Psa. 2:66Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6)). When the time has come, the Lord Jesus will deal with this world in judgment, a time often referred to in Scripture as “the day of the Lord.” It will be a day of solemn judgment, as God deals with those who rebel against His Son. But then, as the result of that judgment, “the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness,” and “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:1717And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Isaiah 32:17)).
This is the only solution to this world’s problems — problems that increase year by year and defy man’s ability to solve. But when Christ has His rightful place, He will bring in a lasting peace that none will be able to disturb.
For us who now live in the time of His rejection, we can have peace about our sins and peace about all our circumstances, while we wait for the Prince of peace to bring about the peace on earth that is the result of His work on the cross.
W. J. Prost