What difficult times are the days in which we live! Wherever we turn we hear of wars and rumors of war. Without a doubt, the dark clouds of war are gathering over many nations and many are suffering intensely the ravages of battle.
While we have been reasonably isolated as a nation from wars that are raging in faraway places, there is increasing talk of “war cycles” and how our lives may well be impacted. Interestingly, our young people increasingly play war games and even our children are showing more and more interest in weapons of war. Indeed, whether we use the term or not, a “war cycle” is in progress.
In times like these, what does the Lord have to say to us? Recently my attention has been drawn to His Word as I seek His counsel. More and more, I am aware that while in the kingdoms of man wars are rampant, He speaks to us about another kingdom, His Kingdom. Of that kingdom, He says through the Prophet Isaiah,
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills . . . And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:2-4
Rather than war with its weaponry, the Lord speaks to us about a harvest with its instruments. Swords and spears of war are changed into plowshares and pruninghooks which are effective for the harvest. What a change of focus in His kingdom that only the Lord can bring about in our lives! In these times when a war-like way of life can ensnare us and result even in our going to battle with one another, the Lord challenges us with the words of the verse that follows:
“O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Rather than a mentality of conflict and war, the Lord would have us to place the importance where He places it. He places it on the great harvest. He would have us to be focused on that which He is doing based on the precious Seed, Christ Jesus, that seed that has been planted in our hearts and is to produce fruit for His glory.
Lord, do your work in my life! May I be a bearer of plowshares and pruninghooks; and not of swords and spears!
