Is it worth it to fight today for a better tomorrow?

Is the loss of many lives, most of whom are innocent civilians, worth it?

It’s easy for government and military leaders, politicians, and foreign policy advisors to say, yes, let’s go to war, fight the evil regime, tear down the walls, restore freedom to the people. But these policy and decision-makers are often the very ones who are heavily guarded, protected from bombs and bullets, shielded from the real-world problems of hikes in the prices of kerosene and cooking gas, fuel surcharges, because now that oil-producing countries are being targeted, they tax and charge the rest of the world.

Not only the part of the world at war, or the countries or governments that caused the war, but also those of us all the way here in the Pacific Islands. And the cost might not be in lives lost to gunfire or bombings, but the cost of daily living will rise as manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of goods and services scramble to keep their costs low. Without fail, the greedy ones among them will take the chance to gain even higher profits.

This might sound selfish to you, because people are being shot at and dying. But my point is, war costs lives, lives of real people, ordinary people who think they’re fighting for something worth dying for. And maybe leaders of our governments don’t see that because they’ve become used to living on a different level than the rest of us.

Who is to blame for the war that is raging right now in the Middle East? Are the people of Iran, who yearned for freedom from an oppressive regime, to blame? Do we blame Ali Khamenei for being iron-fisted and running a tyrannical government? Are the laws and strict religious mandates of the Islamic sect that Iran follows to blame? Or is it the USA’s fault, or is it the Trump Administration’s fault?

Or do we blame the devil himself?

Whoever is at fault here, please remember that as Christians, you and I are called to watch and pray.

Your Stance is to Watch and Pray

I reiterate here my prayer points from my previous post. Please use these points and add to them as we wait for the return of our King Jesus. Watch what’s happening in the world and pray about it!

• Pray for fellow Christians who are being persecuted for their faith. Ask God to strengthen them through the ordeal, and bring them through stronger and deeper in faith in Jesus Christ than before they accepted Him as Saviour and Lord.
• Pray for fellow Christians and innocent civilians caught in the current war zones in Israel, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. Pray for their safety and for God to provide their immediate needs for shelter, water, and medical supplies if needed.
• Pray for the soldiers of all the countries that are at war. Yes, for those who are Christian, Jews, Muslims, Hamas, ISIS, and all. Ask the LORD God to open their eyes and hearts to His truth, that they know that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the whole world and He alone is Lord of all. Ask God to turn them from mere fighters for their countries’ ideologies to warriors of God and His Kingdom.
• Pray for the leaders of all the countries that are at war, and leaders of terrorist groups who persecute Christians around the world. Ask God to make a way for His trusted people to meet and share His truth, love, mercy and grace with them.

It’s natural to feel anxious, but don’t allow anxiety to overcome you. I think the Lord Jesus knew that we would be anxious and afraid, yes, even us Christians. The important thing is that we talk to God about our feelings, and let Him handle the rest.

May God encourage and strengthen you as you pray. Maranatha! Amen

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