The Impossible Dream

Recently, Reuters reported that "the Beatles' guru"—Maharishi Mahesh Yogi—had announced a plan to destroy world terrorism. The yogi was quoted as saying that "with $1 billion he could train 40,000 expert meditators" who would generate enough "good vibes" to save the world.

This religious leader, like most others, certainly recognizes that current approaches to peace are not working. Terrorism threatens America and much of the western world. Palestinians and Israelis are locked in a vicious spiral of destruction. Pakistan and India appear on the verge of nuclear war.

Virtually every nation and religion says that it wants peace—but peace on its own terms, leading to the dominance of one religion, one nation or one ideology above all others. With such a wide range of beliefs on this planet, the deck seems to be stacked against peace, as it has been for the last 6,000 years of mankind's history.

Is world peace, then, an impossible dream? Yes, it is—if left in human hands. God has allowed mankind 6,000 years to prove itself unable to live in peace. Certainly some talk of peace and goodwill and brotherhood. But it has never been achieved. As the Apostle Paul observed nearly 2,000 years ago: "Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known" (Romans 3:15–17).

Simply put, human beings cannot live together in peace apart from the true God. In fact, Jesus Christ indicated that there would be such worldwide conflict at the end of this age that, unless He intervened, there would be no beings left alive (Matthew 24:21, 22).

It will take overwhelming force and power from the Great God to put an end to the warfare and military might of the nations. The Creator of the universe is the only One who has such power, and has the capacity to bring—and enforce—world peace.

God will bring peace on His terms. He will institute, for all peoples, His spiritual laws that are the blueprint for human happiness. Jesus Christ Himself will lead the worldwide government that will enforce God's laws. Gone will be the current multitude of governments, languages and ideologies. No longer will there be hundreds of different religions. In fact, there will no longer be "religion" as the world has known it. There will simply be Jesus Christ at the head of the government, bringing about the way of life that leads to peace, justice and happiness.

Peace will not come through large sums of money, or by "meditation," or by human good intentions. Living God's way, peace will simply be a by-product of that way of life. "Great peace have they which love Your law" (Psalm 119:165). On a national level, God promises to those nations that truly follow His way of life: "I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and none will make you afraid" (Leviticus 26:6).

World peace is coming, whether you believe it or not. But you can believe this message—and prove it for yourself—from your Bible. And you can begin to live by His laws even now. If you want to have in your life the "great peace" that God promises, why not begin right now to study His instruction book for humanity, the Bible—the literal Word of God?

You can have, right now, the peace in your life that most of the world will only enjoy after Jesus Christ returns. So why wait?