A Man with a Plan: Mission Impossible?

The world may be looking for a “man with a plan,” but it became more apparent this week that Secretary of State John Kerry is not that man. After Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his doubts about successful peace negotiations with the Palestinians, Kerry said, “We have always known that achieving peace is a long and complicated process. It’s a tough road, but it is not mission impossible.” This week, Kerry returned to Washington when talks broke down. Mission impossible?

Ever since Israel became a nation in 1948, world leaders have tried to be “a man with a plan” for Middle East peace. But until Christ returns, it will be mission impossible. In the meantime, Jesus offers “a plan” for peace: His peace—not world peace (Jn. 14:27; 16:33). Knowing believers would face hostility in this world, Paul said, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, which exceeds anything we can understand, peace that will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Col. 2:15; Phil. 4:7). Peace for us is not only possible; it is highly probable. How can I be so sure? Because Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14).

Is it Peacemaking or Placating?

U.S. and Russian diplomats began meeting this week to head off a U.S. military strike against Syria. But is it ‘peacemaking’ or ‘placating?’ The difference? Placators try to lessen conflict by avoiding and appeasing. Peacemakers stand for truth even if it stirs up feelings. According to Jesus, the word of truth can divide people like a “sword” (Matt 10:34). A true peacemaker will never compromise truth just to “get along.”

The fact is, however, “peacemaking” is very personal. Indeed, who of us has not been relationally challenged to seek peace when “conciliation” would be so much easier? (Peacemaking can be messy!) Making it even more challenging, peacemaking only works if each  party is seeking peace on God’s terms—unconditional surrender to His will. Is there a lesson for us here?

Placating will produce a fix, but only temporarily. Whether among nations or between best friends, placating will only “heal the hurt superficially, declaring ‘Peace, peace,' when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14). Be on your guard; the antichrist will call himself a 'man of peace' (Dan. 8:25). But he will be a placator.

The Antichrist and the New World Order

Earlier this month, I suggested that the stage is being set for the antichrist's one-world government.  Since then, I found this statement by David Rockefeller from 1994. "We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order." Every president since Regan has spoken of a new world order to describe the uniting of superpowers to secure global peace, safety, and stability.

David Rockefeller couldn’t have known how soon the predicted ‘major crisis’ would occur. But on 9/1/1, the world entered the war on terror that continues today with no end in sight. The need for a united front against terror is paving the way for a New World Order.

The New World Order will provide the antichrist a system of command and control to fulfill the Bible prophecy that just before Christ's return people will be saying, everything is peaceful and secure” (1 Thess. 5:3 NLT).  It behooves us to pay close attention to the candidates running for president in 2012 to see how they plan on addressing these global concerns. Listen for the phrase "New World Order."

God’s Plan for Peace in the Middle East

Last month, our Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rebuked Israel and the Palestinians for not working hard enough on a plan for peace. Every administration for the last 60 years has tried to champion peace in the Mideast, every president hoping he would leave a legacy as the world's  greatest peacemaker.

Let's be honest.  The only peacemaker this world will ever know is Jesus Christ.  His peace plan is found in nearly every prophet book; it is called the Day of the Lord. When Jesus returns to earth, He is going to sett up a 1000-year reign, a time of perfect peace when men will no longer war with one another and "the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and a little boy will lead them" (Is. 11:6).

If Secretary Panetta would read the Bible, he would meet the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6), and understand God’s plan for peace in the Middle East.  That's not to say we should not be praying for peace in the world.  But more so, we should be "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord" (2 Pe 3:12) when there will be everlasting peace on earth.