Worse than Nuclear War

October 17, 2018

Devotions, Blog

“There are worse things than a nuclear war.”

General Alexander Haig, a key figure in President Reagan’s administration, spoke those words. His opinion met with resounding criticism in the media. Many people could not imagine a scenario worse than the carnage caused by nuclear-fueled missiles.

Worse than nuclear war?

Haig was no theologian. But, theologically, he was right.

During this election cycle, a variety of issues are trumpeted as the worse threats ever.

We Christians understand that there is something much worse than nuclear war. Or global warming. Or illegal immigration. Or taxes. Or the mismanagement of the economy. Or any of the other issues that we hear are dire in this election cycle.

Nothing worse than missing out on grace

Much worse than a nuclear war is not having a relationship with the holy God who created us. Much worse is facing death without the forgiveness his Son has won for us. Much worse is attempting to deal with life without the assurances of his promises and the guarantees of his eternal commitment.

For us Christians death – or the challenges of life – need never frighten. Leaving life here is the doorway to life with our God in heaven. The challenges of life, no matter how severe, are the gateway to greater blessings.

The guarantees of grace

Paul asks, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Since God’s grace guarantees he will give us everything we need, “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword [can]… separate us from the love of Christ” (Romans 8:35).

Paul’s conclusion: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).

What’s worse than nuclear war? Missing out on Jesus-won grace.

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