I think it can be very safely said that war was not in
God’s plan for humanity. God created us to live in perfect harmony -
with Him and each other. But sin entered the world when humanity wasn’t
satisfied with God’s plan. And the major result of sin is that it rips apart
relationships. Sin tore apart our perfect relationship with God. Sin tore
apart our perfect relationships with each other. In other words, since sin
is a reality in this world, war is also going to be a reality in this world.
And now that this war is a reality we can also say with certainty:
God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit to allow the war to happen. But why?
Please keep this verse in mind: "And we know that in
ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
The verse says in "all things" God works for the good..."
It doesn’t say, "In all things - except war..." That means that God can work
things out for good in this war. And since he chose to allow this
war, it follows that he already has a plan for some good to come from it.
Something good that would not have come about apart from the war.
But what? I don’t pretend to know the mind of God with
regard to all the things he has planned to happen as a result of this war.
But I do know of two things. Both of which happen "on our knees."
From 1 Timothy 2: I urge, then, first of all, that
requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone__ for
kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4]
who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as a ransom for all men... I want men everywhere to lift up
holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
We see that one of the things God wants to have happen is
people on their knees praying... For their leaders and for peace. We’ve seen
both of those things happen with an intensity that never would have happened
apart from war. But the greatest "good" that can come from anything bad is
that people come to a knowledge of the truth that there is one God and that
his Son Jesus defeated the enemy that would have kept us separated from God
eternally - sin. Whatever your thoughts on the war are, set aside your
disputes, get on your knees and pray. And in addition to your prayers for
peace, our leaders and troops, add prayers that as a result of the war,
people would come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. People in Iraq. People in
America. People in our Armed Forces.
The second thing God wants to have happen is something we
see in Joshua 5:13-15
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw
a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went
up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of
the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in
reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
It’s tempting to think that God is always on our side and
wants the same things we want. But that passage clearly shows God isn’t
automatically on anyone’s side. Rather he wants to know if we are willing to
set aside what we want and trust in what He wants. In other words, are we
willing to surrender our will to his will? Are we willing to quit trying to
be "commander in chief" of our lives and let him be our "commander in
chief"? Are we willing to let God lead or are we going to keep on leading
and hoping God will follow us?
War brings people to their knees... in prayer... and in recognizing that
we aren’t in control. Two good things that God can bring about from the bad
thing that is war.
