Man, as fallen, is said to have a mind, which is carnal and enmity against God his Creator and Lawgiver, and this is substantiated throughout the Scriptures in the recorded history of men and nations and in the doctrine of the Bible, which exposes man, as in heart and conduct, utterly opposed to the Name, Word and Will of God. And instead of loving God with all his heart and soul and strength and mind, he is an out and out enemy to God, and reveals this by his wicked works. He does not like to retain God in his knowledge, he violates the divine law boldly, and when confronted with the precious Saviour, rejects and dishonours him with complacency. With regard to all this, God is indeed just when He, the Holy One, is angry with the wicked every day and warns men that the wicked and impenitent shall be turned into hell. Man’s conflict with God means inevitable ruin for man, unless divine mercy interpose and sinners be reconciled to God through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
But now men are so depraved morally and spiritually, that when left to themselves, they cannot live at peace with one another or among themselves. No wonder Joseph admonished his brethren thus: “See that ye fall not out by the way.” And the Apostle Paul saw need to counsel Thessalonian believers thus ” . . . be at peace among yourselves.” We have the clear revelation of Scripture concerning unregenerate man that he has neither will nor ability to love his neighbour as himself, but inherently lives ” . . . in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” This of course may be and is restrained and circumscribed by God in varied ways and in different degrees in the case of men and nations, where and when He sees fit to apply such restraint for the fulfilling of His purposes and the benefit of human society. But when that restraint is withdrawn and withheld in divine sovereignty from men, for reasons known to God himself, then men soon reveal their malice and enmity to one another. And when such as profess the Christian faith and an interest in Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace, reveal a deplorable and unseemly lack of love to their neighbours, then they are either in a low state and condition in the life of grace or are hypocrites. But it is evident in the world, that sin hath so ruined, darkened and perverted the minds of men, that they are continually liable to reveal malice one toward another and to live in conflict instead of peace.
What has influenced us to write on these lines at present is the extraordinary fact of open and bitter conflict between men of the same nation, and between nations, and between men of different colour, occurring in different parts of the world in these recent times.
There has been with us since the end of the last war, tension, suspicion and recrimination as between Russia and the Western Powers. And this continues more or less. But more recently the world has been made aware of the intense hatred on the part of Egypt and other Arab States, towards the Jews and the Israeli nation. This hatred is directed toward the elimination of the Jews as a nation. Again, there was the Mau Mau activity in Kenya, East Africa, which was ultimately brought under control but which has left behind a legacy of controversy between Africans and whites in that land. There was also the trouble in Nyasaland, Central Africa between Africans and Europeans and this part of Africa is, as yet, far from being a peaceable habitation. And when we look to South Africa, the world is just recovering from the shock of sensational happenings there, under the present National Government in power in that land. Tens of thousands of Africans (Natives) came out in processions to protest against what they have considered to be oppressive laws imposed upon them by the white man. There were riots, shootings, bloodshed, destruction of property, and stern government measures to bring the situation under control. Here again are men confronting one another as opponents and virtual enemies. Let us now turn to the extreme north of the African continent and what goes on there? The continuance of a long drawn out war on the part of the French against Algerian rebel forces. Then there exists the disagreement between India and China on account of the intrusion by Chinese forces into parts of Northern India. And, at the time of writing, there has just subsided a sharp and bitter uprising by many in South Korea against the recently elected Government and heads of State. Many were killed and wounded in angry riots. And immediately following upon this came the news of similar disturbances and riots, involving bloodshed, in Turkey against the present Government there. And in another sphere of human activity to-day we see men in conflict. For Arab port workers in the Middle East are boycotting United States ships in retaliation for the picketing of the United Arab Republic ship Cleopatra in New York. The New York picket being in protest against the U.A.R. blacklisting of U.S. ships which have called at Israeli ports.
The brief summary we have given above of men in conflict one with the other throughout the world at the present time, is more than sufficient to demonstrate the truth of the Word of God written by Paul of the natural man and the power and fruit of sin, viz.: “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 3). Man is a transgressor of the whole law, he neither loves God nor his neighbour, although there may be, and there is, among men a superficial compliance with the rules of civilized and ordered society. But this is, in point of fact, merely on the surface. Yet how blind many intellectuals, theologians formal Christians and others are to the solemn truth of the utter ruin of man in his nature by reason of sin!
We have already illustrated that amid all the seeming light, culture, and advancement of the present age, men still cannot live at peace with their neighbour or successfully cultivate the things that make for peace. Of course, we must not forget in all this, that there are those who may and do have just grievances against their fellow men and have truth and right on their side. And conflict is liable to arise in this case where others disregard and seek to trample upon the just and proper rights of their neighbour. Then again, men, in seeking to extract just and proper treatment from their neighbour, are themselves in the process violating the second Table of the Law of God, in many cases all over the world. We are conscious that Christ’s standards are blessed and high, such as “Love your enemies . . . Do good to them that hate you,” etc. But these divine directives must not and cannot be tampered with or watered down to suit even the Christian who may be saying to himself, “They are too high. I cannot attain unto them.” What is called for, is a lamentation over the ruin and impotency which sin has brought upon man in relation to the claims of the Law and the Gospel of God.
The crying need of the world, men and nations, is for the Word of God, the faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon this generation. Thus ruined man can be regenerated and brought to know the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and to love God. And as a blessed fruit of this to love his neighbour as himself, according to the measure of grace given to each one in the sovereign mercy of Heaven.
The United Nations Organisation, Commonwealth Conferences and Summit Meetings will miserably fail to bring peace on earth and good will among men. The God of peace alone can accomplish this. To Him alone must men and nations be brought to look. “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah, Chapter 45, Verse 22).