A World At War

2Cor.5. 17-21. A world at war.

I think it is fitting today with it being remembrance Sunday to talk about this world’s greatest need, which I believe is reconciliation I think it is appropriate as we remember those service men and women and civilians who have laid down their lives in the duty of serving their country. Many of whom sacrificed their lives in an endeavour to bring peace to this world. Yet even with all their service and self sacrifice we still see a world at war with itself.

• In fact the Society of International law in London states this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than 8% of the time. Over the last 4000 years of history, only 268 years saw peace that’s 3732 years this world has been at war with itself. Moreover in excess of 8000 peace treatises have been made and broken.

But not only is there war raging in the world around us with nations opposing each other but there is war domestically in family life between husband and wife between partners who live together with 1- 3 families breaking up these statistics shout out to us that family life is at war also. Let’s be honest , who has not been affected by this war at some point in their lives? It’s effects each and every one of us even if you have stayed together through the turmoil. There may even be wars raging in your own heart today?

Then consider the war raging in our teenagers today. Many of whom living lives without any significance at all, unloved unwanted a life without peace in their hearts as a result many turn to a life of drug abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, immorality, violent crime and even to the depths of suicide.

Statistics: Our kids Every day: 1,000 unwed teenage girls become mothers - 1,106 teenage girls get abortions - 4,219 teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases - 500 adolescents begin using drugs - 1,000 adolescents begin drinking alcohol - 135,000 kids bring guns or other weapons to school - 3,610 teens are assaulted; - 2,200 teens drop out of high school - 6 teens commit suicide every day. Taken from "Right from Wrong" by Josh Mcdowell page 18.

Okay these stats come from America, but our nation is no different…… there is a war taking place in the lives of our teenagers… At the end of the day we could just throw up our hands up in the air in despair and lose all hope. But there is hope for a world at war and it is through the means of reconciliation.

Reconciliation at times being brought to fruition through nations - signing peace treatises

Reconciliation between husband and wives recommitting their lives together

Reconciliation between teenagers and parents …….

The greatest ……Reconciliation is between yourself and God: This is the only hope to a world at war with itself - to God brings transformation in a person’s life where once wars raged they begin to cease you begin to live a life you never thought possible, a life that desires reconciliation for the world.

Paul says, v17 If anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation , the old has gone and the new has come.

This is whats got to take place in your life … Untill this happens you might be living at peace in this world and with your family but seriously you are at war with God and you are in need of reconciliation with God.

Chistians are brand new people on the inside, people who have completely changed, not as a result of their own strength but of God’s transforming power . Many people have many ideas of what makes a Christian from being a good person, going to Church, being baptized or confirmed by an institution, but all this is religion we need a complete re-creation.

• A London businessman was selling a warehouse, and showing a respective client around the place, the building had stood empty for months as a result vandals had damaged the doors and windows, squatters had also made it their home at some point as it was littered with rubbish and human excrement. As he showed the prospective buyer around the businessman went to great length to explain he would repair the windows and door and any structural damage and clear up the place of all its filth. The client replied “Forget about the repairs,” when I buy this place , I’m going to build something completely different . I don’t want this building; I want the site.

What does this story teach us? You see compared with the renovation God has in mind and our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse ready for demolition. When we become God’s … The old life is over all things become new. All God wants is the site (your life) and the permission to build upon it.