Pricey Buddy,
The United Nations represents itself as “the world’s solely actually world group”—one dedicated to “peace, dignity and equality on a wholesome planet.” There may be good cause to problem that declare and to query the group’s capability to realize its goal. The UN got here into existence in October 1945 to take care of worldwide peace. Seventy-nine years later, we live in a damaged world the place strife and dysfunction amongst folks and nations is arguably worse than at every other level in historical past.
Why, chances are you’ll be asking, am I delving into this “political” area? Let me reply.
Every week in the past, I returned from Albania, the place I had been chatting with church leaders from varied elements of the nation. In my youth, this area was identified to be probably the most proudly atheistic, Communist nation on earth. Early one night, my host, Andi, toured me and my buddy Tim Challies across the heart of Tirana and identified the buildings which, up till 1991, housed Communist dictators. The dictators at the moment are lifeless and gone, however the nation stays in darkness—a darkness that may solely be overcome by the “true mild” (John 1:9) who has come into the world.
On Sunday morning, we gathered in our lodge, as soon as the province of the Communist regime, and heeded the decision of the psalmist: “Sing to the Lord, bless his title; inform of his salvation from daily. Declare his glory among the many nations.” Having grown up in a house that believed the lie that God was nothing greater than an invention to fill the gaps within the lives of needy folks, Andi led the service, as a result of the sunshine of the Gospel had shone into his coronary heart by way of the face of Jesus, and the darkness can’t overcome it.
The wonderful goals of the UN are sure to fail, as a result of the guts of man is desperately depraved and can’t be tamed by political concept or self-effort. Why is it that “the nations rage and the peoples plot in useless?” The reply is that they’ve set themselves towards the Lord. Jesus is the one one in whom “all issues maintain collectively.” The church of Jesus Christ is an everlasting, worldwide, multilingual, unstoppable pressure on the earth. “Jesus shall reign” and “His kingdom stretch from shore to shore.” This He has promised, and He’ll maintain His phrase.
I discovered the identical to be true in Zagreb, Croatia, and likewise within the Netherlands, the place I spoke previous to arriving in Albania. The once-proud Dutch East India Firm is not any extra, and Yugoslavia is damaged in items. What let’s assume of our personal honest land at this level in our historical past? One in every of my favourite hymns, sung on the funerals of Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II, has this as a closing verse:
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall by no means,
Like earth’s proud empires, move away.
Thy kingdom stands and grows ceaselessly,
Until all Thy creatures personal Thy sway.
What the UN longs to realize however can’t is being achieved by way of the work of the Gospel in the entire world. Allow us to work whereas it’s day, for the evening is coming (John 9:4). Be assured of the day when loud voices shall declare, “The dominion of the world has turn into the dominion of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign ceaselessly.”
With ever-increasing gratitude for our fellowship within the Gospel and with my love within the Lord Jesus,
Alistair Begg
PS: There are nonetheless openings accessible on our fall tour of Canada and New England, should you’d like to return alongside. You’ll be able to be taught extra and ebook your ticket at deeperfaithcruise.com.
