The Bible tells to us why there is so much war, violence, and terror increasing in the world today. It also explains why political leaders are incapable of stopping these acts. The problem is that acts of war, terror, and sin do not only come because of economic injustice, greed, racial tensions, or religious conflicts. The Bible tells us that these are only symptoms of a much deeper problem. God identifies that the real issue for all the tragedies we are seeing today is the human heart.
James 4:1, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?"
Mark 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Corrupt and wicked thoughts, actions, reasoning, passions, and appetites are the results of a sinful and unregenerate heart. It is only the restraining work of the Spirit of God upon the heart that can contain and suppress the evil thoughts and affections that control men. And as men reject the Holy Spirit, who constrains the heart from fully turning towards evil, the result will lead to the terrible consequences that we are seeing today.
This violence is not just played out during international conflicts, wars, or acts of terrorism; this violence is also being repeated daily in our schools, homes, and in all segments of society.
"In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ’s second coming” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 p. 1090).
These acts of violence will only continue to increase as we get nearer to the second coming of Christ. There will never be an end to the conflicts we are seeing today, not until Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom of perfect justice and righteousness.
Isaiah 33:7-9, "The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the traveling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, He has despised the cities, He regards no man. The earth mourns and languishes."
We are commanded to pray and work towards peace. We should be the first to encourage every effort to bring peace to our world. But that peace is intimately linked to truth and righteousness. Therefore, we cannot simply pray for peace alone because, without the other two, we will never experience true, lasting peace.
1 Timothy 2:1-2, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."
