Jesus Is Coming Back Soon!

“The cross of peace is the burden of the courageous.” – Amine Gemayel, President of Lebanon, 1983

My, how things have changed in the Middle East… and not for the better!

Forty years ago, after the assassination of his brother Bachir, Amine Gemayel was elected president of Lebanon with the support of both Israel and the United States. Within a year, despite heavy opposition from within his own party, Gemayel pushed through the March 17 Agreement that stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces and ended the state of war between the two countries. Unfortunately, he was unable to convince the Lebanese Parliament to ratify the treaty and it was eventually cancelled.

As a result, Lebanon has experienced four decades of off-and-on conflict within its own borders as well as ongoing hostilities with Israel to the south. In fact, the rise of Hezbollah can be traced directly to the failure of the Lebanese Parliament to follow Gemayel’s bold and conciliatory leadership.

My friend, as Christians we are called to be peacemakers (see Matthew 5:9 below). Even the Apostle Paul advocated a peaceful existence (see Romans 12:18, also below). However, neither of those admonitions – first from Jesus and then from Paul – promise success in our peacekeeping endeavors.

The truth of the matter is that the Middle East and the world as a whole will not experience real peace and harmony until Jesus Himself returns to rein and rule in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Until then, there will continue to be “wars and rumors of wars” as Jesus said in Matthew 24:6.

But don’t give up hope because Jesus is coming back… and coming back soon!

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:18 (ESV)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President