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Uniting The World

By William J. Stewart
Millions tuned in to watch the 2010 winter Olympic games hosted in Vancouver, Canada. Folks from almost every nation watched and for a few weeks, the world became a much closer community. A similar event is now underway, the 2010 FIFA World Cup of Soccer, hosted in South Africa.

Sports have a tendency to bring out a spirit of comradery in people, especially when it is on a world stage. I've seen some of the matches, and have cheered for nations from around the world. And yet, as pleasant as a sporting event is, and as much as it will capture the interest of people from the nations, it cannot bring true peace and unity to the world. It is a momentary pause, a temporary togetherness of the human race, but provides no lasting answer to the troubles and issues which plague the earth.

Politicians also make their efforts to establish unity in our fractured world. Canada will be hosting both the G-20 and G-8 summits this summer. The G-20 will focus on international economic issues, while the G-8 addresses other topics such as health, education, security and peace. The intent of these meetings is to improve relations and situations among the nations of the world, but unfortunately such will not be the result. A host of protestors and activists will also be at these events, who will show themselves to be domestic terrorists by their violent activities.

Neither athletes nor politicians are going to unite the world. These simply serve as momentary distractions or stark reminders, as the case may be, of the division and troubles that exist. No number of friendly matches or unifying peace accords will result in unity.

There are some who understand that the answer is spiritual. That is because the problem is spiritual. Sin is at the root of the troubles and trials that plague the world. That is not to say that every little issue we face (ie. a common cold) is the direct result of sin, but an acknowledgement that were it not for the presence of sin in the world, things would be much different.

“Neither athletes nor politicians are going to unite the world.”

We cannot undo what has been done - it's not possible to take sin out of the world. However the Lord has provided a solution whereby our sin can be forgiven, the penalty of sin removed, and peace and unity can reign in our lives and communities.

The apostle Paul stated,

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)

It is possible to enjoy peace that surpasses understanding and joy beyond measure (Philippians 4:4, 7). And this peace and joy is available to all willing to come to the Lord. We're told that "...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself..." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Friend, our hope is not in the world or anything that the world offers. It is in Christ alone that the entire world can find peace and hope. The Bible tells us what is available "in Christ."

Galatians 3:28 says,

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Racial, social & gender barriers all disappear in Christ. These are all prevalent in the world and bring with them all kinds of troubles. In the world, Jesus says we will find tribulation, but in Him, we have victory through faith (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4). The Lord Jesus has the power to give unity and peace in the here and now, and in eternity. Turn to Him and live!


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Answering The Atheist

By William J. Stewart

Complaint:
Did Sarah have faith that she would conceive? Hebrews 11:11 says yes, but Genesis 18:10-15 says she laughed at God. Is there a contradiction?

Response:
This attempt to show a discrepancy in the Bible has an inherent failure in it. What an individual believes at a given time is not necessarily what they will believe at another time. Faith and understanding is not concrete; but changes as knowledge increases and circumstances in life happen around us.

Did Sarah always believe that she would bear a son? In Genesis 16:2, she attempted to fulfill God's promise of a child through her maidservant. This was not God's plan.

Genesis 17:15-21 reveals that Abraham also had difficulty believing that he would have a child by Sarah. Yet God affirmed that it would be so.

In Genesis 18:10-15, it is affirmed again that she would conceive. She still had difficulty believing. The physical impossibility is what caused her to laugh.

God challenged her:

Is anything too hard for the LORD? (v 14)

It may have been this challenge or another event that caused her to believe. When and what it was, we are not told; but we do know that she "by faith ... received strength to conceive..." (Hebrews 11:11). How and when is not revealed, just that she once did not believe, but eventually did.

There is no contradiction.

This article is in response to Skeptics Annotated Bible.