10/24

Micah 4:3

³He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;

In Daniel chapter two we saw that the future governments of the world were represented by an image of a man. They will all ultimately fail. When one rises to power and becomes strong, the people become increasingly lethargic and sensual and then another nation takes its place. The cycle happens again and again until the son of David, Christ Jesus, restores the throne of David in perfect righteousness.

A large part of the world's economies are spent on defense. Imagine the prosperity the world would experience if all those finances were spent on productive endeavors. That is what will happen under the reign of Jesus on the earth. When there is a dispute among the nations, He will judge it righteously and all will submit to His judgment. They will submit because He is completely just and all-knowing and all-powerful.

Redeemed children of God experience that to some extent now as they forgive offenses against them and seek the welfare of others. Allowing Jesus to reign in your life is to experience being in His kingdom. We seek peace with our neighbors and those who have something against us. Jesus said that it is the peacemakers who will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

Consider: So far as it depends on us, we should be at peace with all people, for the Prince of Peace reigns over our hearts (Romans 12:18).