President Obama was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and on December 10, 2009 he gave his acceptance speech for this coveted award in Oslo, Norway. He began his speech by acknowledging there was much controversy surrounding his being awarded the prize. He acknowledged there were many others who were more worthy considering he was just beginning his presidency and had actually accomplished little to earn it. He also acknowledged the United States was presently involved in two wars, hardly the example of a peaceful nation.
His acceptance speech appealed to a broad spectrum of listeners. Even most conservatives agreed with his justification for the wars in which the United States presently finds herself. Whether he wrote the speech or his speechwriters, he assumed ownership of it as evidenced by his generous use of the singular personal pronouns ‘I’, ‘me’, and ‘my’.
Inasmuch as Mr. Obama professes Christianity it would be expected that his references to issues addressed in the Bible would reflect the Biblical perspective.
President Obama stated that wars have been with mankind since the beginning and there was what he termed ‘justifiable’ wars for reasons such as self defense, etc. He acknowledged that evil did in fact exist in the world. He was Biblically correct on both issues.
Evil was present and wars began in the Garden of Eden. Remember the curse on Satan the author of evil?
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed…” Genesis 3:15
And thousands of years later Jesus Himself spoke of events between His ascension and His return.
“…And you will hear of wars and rumors or wars…For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” Matthew 24:6-7
After speaking at length about the presence and justification of wars Mr. Obama intimated mankind could “build a just and lasting peace” that would transcend wars. He did not imply such a peace could be attained easily, in fact he mentioned the challenges associated with the “imperfections of man and the limits of reason.” That is a vast understatement and highlights one of the core tenets of liberalism that conflicts with Biblical teachings. Included in the secular definition of liberalism is the belief in the “essential goodness of man.”
The Bible teaches that since the initial sin of rebellion in the Garden of Eden all men are born with an innate propensity to sin. Consider the words of King David.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5
And then consider the words of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament.
“Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…” Romans 5:12
The problem arises due to the fact that the majority of the world doesn’t take Biblical precepts seriously. Not giving credence to Biblical precepts is not limited to the non Christian. For example, if President Obama believes that disparate nations can achieve permanent peace among themselves as he envisions he is ignoring His own Bible. The Bible clearly states that wars will persist until Christ returns to put down all rebellion. Consider Jesus’ own words.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
Only after mankind has exhausted all attempts to achieve peace, either by force or diplomacy, will Christ return to earth to put down all rebellion and establish His predestined government spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder…Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” Isaiah 9:6-7
But that future government of justice and peace will only be established after the war of wars.
“Behold, the day of the LORD is coming…‘For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem’…Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations…” Zechariah 14:1-3
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16
So, yes Mr. President, there will be wars among nations during the foreseeable future. And yes Mr. President the day will come when the nations of the earth will live in peace. But no Mr. President, you will have nothing to do with that peace except expedite the conditions that confirm man is totally incapable of governing himself.
Again, it is amazing that leaders of nations that profess to espouse Biblical truths will offer solutions that are absolutely contradictory to the word of God which has proven time and time again to be reliable via history.
It should also be remembered, however, that such leaders have been appointed by the sovereign God Himself…
“…In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” Daniel 4:17