Why Do the Nations Rage?

In the past 3,400 years the world has only seen 268 years of peace. That is only 8 percent of recorded human history. This information is based on a New York Times article from 2006.



If we look at this another way, we must also remember that just 16 years ago we exited a century dubbed the bloodiest. Indeed, the 20th century saw a five-fold increase in war deaths when looking at sheer numbers. When looking at the percentage of the world population it was a three-fold increase.



This does not include the deaths of non-war acts committed by dictators such as Mao Tse Tung, Joseph Stalin, and Pol Pot. These would account for approximately 100 million deaths; if not more.



The nations, no doubt, rage.



What I find fascinating is that an ancient Jewish text known as Psalm 2 describes this fact of the world about 3,000 years ago.



Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed...

                                                                                                                            Psalm 2:1-2 (ESV)



It makes sense does it not? The majority of the deaths in the 20th century, especially those committed by dictators, have been by those in utter defiance to the True and Living God.



Here's the revolution.



About 2,000 years ago a man allowed a nation to rage against him. He allowed them to put him though mock trial after mock trial in a kangaroo court. He allowed false witnesses to conspire against him. He allowed guards to beat him---so badly he scarcely looked human. Then he carried a huge wooden cross to the top of a hill where he allowed his captors to nail him to this cross. On this cross he gave up his life---willingly.



God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

                                                                                                                             Romans 5:8 (ESV)

We are a bloody world and we finished up the bloodiest of all centuries.

What is the answer?



The blood of Jesus. Somebody had pay for these crimes. Jesus, the greatest Revolutionary of all, was the only one who could afford the bill. He died on that cross but on the third day he rose again.



Call upon him. He loves you and he died for you.



-Jason Vreeke