What is The Purpose of Striking Syria?

At this moment in history, President Obama and the Congress are deliberating whether to conduct a military strike in Syria. The President wants to send a message to Assad that chemical warfare is intolerable. While that may deal with the immediate issue, arguably it does not touch  the ultimate “purpose.” It does not address the hard question, “What will be its ultimate affect on the Middle East tinderbox?”

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people run wild” (Prov. 29:18). We can see this clearly in Syria (or in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Egypt). But is this not also happening here in the U.S.? But more to the point, this truism relates to the human heart. God created us with purpose (Eph. 1:4) and for purpose (Eph. 2:10; Rom. 8:28). As Biblical believers, our lives have purpose and meaning.

When we live with a view toward God's purposes, our every action follows in harmony with God—we have peace. But at the moment we lose sight of God's purposes, our thoughts run wild—and so do our actions! And, instead of peace and harmony, we experience confusion and anxiety. Today, as we observe the world in chaos, let us make sure the peace of God is ruling in our hearts… and we are intent on God's purposes (Col. 3:14; Philip. 2:2).