Focus Point #4

Thursday morning, August 17, I watched Rick Warren, A guest on "Fox & Friends." A good interview about his efforts to bring together a possible solution to many of the conflicts going on in the world. Although he did not mention the Hezbollah or Hamas, he did mention AlQuaeda. His efforts are directed to government, commercial and the religious groups in these various parts of the world. If, according to his programs, these three groups can be brought together, they could counter the ideas and goals of the terrorists with peaceful solutions and ideals.

Just prior to watching that program, I watched an interview of a well educated and peace seeking Muslim from England. His slant was that the immoral and unethical actions of the United States, Great Britain and Israel must stop. To listen to those two interviews one would think that both sides are looking in the same direction for the ultimate solution. Their efforts would be well and good, but both should be reminded that this terrorist action did not begin with the USA, England, or for that matter, Israel. This conflict started long before the USA or Great Britain ever existed. And, yes, long, long before the Muslims came on the scene.

There is little doubt in my mind, looking at it all objectively, that terrorism is satanic. The devil is the father of lies. He is deceitful and a murderer. Again looking at it objectively, I believe Israel, the United States and England as well as others, these entities are not evil.

I believe, left alone, Israel would not start or even provoke a war against any of their Arab neighbors. These are evil forces in the world, motivated and driven by Satan himself. It's his nature to do that. He'd kill every last soul in the world if he could. But he needs to do that through people who will allow him to use them. And wherever there's a vacuum, you can be sure he's there to fill it. Atheistic Communism, Russia, China, North Korea and, yes, Castro's Cuba, along with anti-Christ Islam, gives to Satan millions of, negative to God, hearts and lives through which to work.

I'm not at all suggesting that those who live in the free world are always good and always right. Not at all! Our leaders are often self-centered, self-motivated and far too often strangers to God and His Son, The Lord Jesus. That being so, they (as do we) do wrong and commit evil acts, i.e some of the despicable evil deeds of our men and women serving in the military.

I'm not faulting Rick Warren for trying to do something positive in this world to bring an end to wars and suffering. Good statesmen and peace seeking world leaders have been trying to do that for years and we should applaud and support their efforts.

Looking at it all Subjectively, it's a sad thing to watch a dust covered father carrying the limp body of his young child out of a bombed out, destroyed building. It's a sad sight if it's in TelAviv or Beruit, Haifa or Tyre, London, New York City or Babylon. Life is precious and we should do all we can to protect it.

I'm reminded of the story in the 5th chapter of Mark. The crazy man of Gadara was out of his mind and the only thing they could do for him was to put him in chains.
Is war with bombs and rockets the only choice we have in these conflicts that pop up? No, it's not. But our enemies leave us no other choice. With them it seems to be kill or be killed. And when being killed is an honor and a promotion to them, obviously our choices are between zero and none.

Until next time,
Blessings,

Bro. Bob