From the Editor
I
heard at work last month that the president of the United
States, Barack Obama, was recently awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize. Many people were shocked by the news; especially when they found
out that the nominations for the award concluded only
three months after he became president. Many asked, “So
what did he actually do to merit an award of bringing peace
to the world?” I heard that someone in the news replied
that he won simply because he was not ex-president George
Bush! Finally, the crew at the Nobel Peace Prize office
said that it was because Barack Obama, in such a short time, changed
the “attitude” of the world into one of “hope.”
As a card-carrying member (spiritually speaking) of the Kingdom of God, I don’t take part in American politics and elections. Additionally, I like to show respect and even pray for them “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (2 Ti. 2:2) So in some ways, I guess I should be happy that the president won this award. But it concerns me.
There are two things about this “spirit of world peace” that concerns me. First of all, I can’t help but be concerned when the world talks about “global peace.” I’m reminded of the superficial peace gained in Judah during the time of Jeremiah. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” (Je. 6:14) The other thing about this is that it’s a bit of a global thermometer to the way they feel about the fighting, poverty, and wars of the last century. The way I see it, if a leader need only to say the word “hope” and the whole world collectively cheers, what does that say about the desperate hunger of a people emaciated from a spiritual diet of death and destruction? Oh brethren, it is time for the true message of hope—from the eternal Prince of Peace—to feed this hunger! It’s the only thing that will.
Locally
here, Mike Atnip and his family made it safely into town,
and he has been busy at work here on The Heartbeat of the Remnant.
He told me a few days ago that that he was volunteering
to help bring the magazine back to its former bimonthly
status. I took him up on his offer. So pray for us as we endeavor to
follow the Spirit of God in what we should say and what we
should print. It is our prayer that you will be richly blessed
by this issue of The Heartbeat of the Remnant.
~Dean Taylor
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