On the 11thday of the 11thmonth on the 11thhour, World War I came to an end. The horror of the event is difficult for us living over 100 years after the end of the hostilities to imagine. At the outset of hostilities, the combatants believed the war would be short and that victory was assured. Their miscalculation was colossal. The war was long and gruesome. Statistics tell a horrendous story. Estimates are that 8.5 million soldiers died and an equal number of civilians died as well, leading to a mind boggling 17 milliondeaths during the war. It was called at the time, “The Great War” or “The War to End All Wars.” In remembrance of the end of the war, we celebrate Veterans Day. In Great Britain they call it Armistice Day.
In one sense, the Allied Powers won World War I. In another sense, World War I was a failure. The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I but created the circumstances that led to World War II. World War I did not end all wars, it created a new one: one more destructive, dangerous, and lethal.
It would be good if humans could learn how to live at peace with one another. It would be good if our nations would learn the ways of peace. Unfortunately, peace among nations is fleeting. So far, human history is replete with nations vying with each other over resources, wealth, national pride, and other commodities. So, they fight. As recently as April of 2020, 28 nations were at war with each other. Closer to home, our country has been at war in Afghanistan since 2001. Nations seem far away from living at peace.
While there are some well-meaning believers who argue for pacifism, pacifism is not required by the Scriptures or practicable in actual human life. Someone once said that pacifists are not so much wrong as they are premature. With the dangers present in human life, with the presence of nations who want to destroy the peace and commit genocide, pacifism is impossible. Pacifism only works among people of good will and nations will only live in good will with each other in the future.
The Christian faith is not silent about the future. We believe that Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God, The Prince of Peace, will return to earth and reign forever and ever. When Jesus reigns, He will bring wars to an end. He will establish justice within and among the nations.
Isaiah gives multiple images of the peaceful future the Lord will usher into existence. He describes the future by saying the blood-stained garments of our warriors will be used as fuel for the fire, meaning there will be no more need for military uniforms, military banners, or insignias. All of the trappings of military life will be unnecessary because there will be no more war. Isaiah points to a future when, “…They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks…” The implements of war will be transitioned into the implements of normal living. It is not just that war will cease. Now, even when there is no war, nations arm themselves as a precaution against war in the future and to deter future aggression. What Isiah is describing is a world where those precautions are no longer needed. Not only will there be no more war, but there will be no reason for there to ever be war again. No one will need to fear the aggression of the strong over the weak. Isaiah goes even further, “…neither will they learn war anymore…” The need to be able to fight battles, the need to train for combat, the need to understand military strategy and operations, and the need to comprehend the ways of warfare will all brought to an end because of the reign of the Messiah.
Believers long for that day to come. So, we pray as the earliest believers, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
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