The attacks on Iran by the USA and Israel have plunged the Middle East and the wider world into crisis. Religious and political leaders have died, airports have been closed, ships have been sunk, and countries in the region have been subjected to retaliatory attacks. The people of Iran face a very uncertain future, and many international travellers are stranded. There is no indication how long the conflict will continue, and the fragility of our modern world has been exposed.
One main cause of the conflict is Iran’s desire to develop its own nuclear weapons whilst also supporting various terrorist groups. Its leaders have declared their wish to destroy totally the state of Israel. Most nations have nuclear weapons as a deterrent – to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression. The possession of nuclear weapons guarantees that a devastating response would follow any nuclear attack, thus deterring adversaries.
Nuclear proliferation presents a great challenge to our world. At present 9 countries in the world possess nuclear weapons: Russia, USA, China, France, UK, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea. Between them they possess more than 12,000 nuclear weapons. Both Russia and the USA possess more than 5000 nuclear weapons each. A single warhead could kill hundreds of thousands of people with lasting and devastating humanitarian and environmental consequences. A single nuclear exploding over a city would destroy more than 500,000 people. We are the first generation to possess the means of destroying all human life on planet Earth.
Where are we to turn for reassurance for ourselves, our children and grandchildren and the world? The Bible is a very realistic book which takes human sinfulness seriously. People in rebellion against God pose a very serious threat to everyone else and to the whole world. The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign. He reigns and guides the whole of human history. Nothing happens without Him and He has gracious and loving purposes for the nations.
Jesus’s disciples once asked him what would be the sign of the end of the age? He answered, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. The good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Amidst all the bad news, the good news of salvation and eternal life through Jesus is still being proclaimed and believed in every part of the world.