Good News and Praise

Washington D.C. – President Barack Obama is expected to announce a new Afghanistan war strategy Tuesday, 1 December, in an address from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

He has said the new detailed plan will address every aspect of U.S. strategy in the war and put the United States and its NATO allies on a path to victory.

Were it not for my strong belief in God and the fore-knowledge given to me in Revelation about how this is all going to play out, maybe not in my life time, but a just and righteous end just the same, I might waste another 1200 words placing arguments on the table and turning this post into something political and ugly. That is not my wish, I am not going to argue any of the merits of the war, frankly my family has had quit enough of this war. Instead I will Pray for the conversion of hearts. It’s not ours to judge even though we know something is evil.

For the sake of argument lets take America out of the debate, simply remove us from the equation. The Lord knows we have more important problems to address here at home. The Taliban and al-Qaida militants operating in Afghanistan are no threat to the United States and they would have little or no control over Pakistan or the countries in the region if the leaders of those countries would actually stop pussy footing around. Let NATO and the governing bodies take care of things in their own back yard.

So now I want to ask you something much more important. If you alone had the power, today, to stop the carnage in Afghanistan how would you decide the outcome? Who would be invited to stay and help re-build the country and who would you banish to the cornfield? Would you punish anyone, Is there a true right or wrong? Is black really black or just a darker shade of white?

Not an easy answer is there? No matter, my question was rhetorical anyway!

The Psalmists often prayed for God to avenge them against their enemies. At first, one might think that’s wrong since the Bible says “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord,” but praying instead of acting still leaves vengeance in God’s hands. And the Apostle Paul did the same, expressing his hope to see those who opposed the gospel get theirs from God. But on the other hand, Jesus taught us to love our enemies and 1 Timothy 2:1 does say that we are to pray for those in authority.

So the middle ground that I see is to pray that God would change the hearts of those who do evil in this world, but that if they will not change, to take them out of the way so they cannot continue their evil. God will decide how to answer such a prayer.

God is a God of grace and it says in 2 Peter 3:9 that “He is not willing that any one perish but that all will come to repentance.” Yes he loves all of us, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, not one more than the other, but His grace can be refused by our rebellious will. It will break his heart but when the time comes he will judge and punish us accordingly!

We need to be praying for the President and our elected leaders to make the right choice for America. At the same time we should pray that the rest of the worlds leaders see the light and repent and turn their lives to Jesus Christ. If God could turn Saul into Paul, He can turn the hearts of the Taliban and al-Qaida militants towards Him.

Vengeance belongs to Him, not to us. May God have mercy on them, soften their hearts, and give them the gift of repentance.