Susan, my wife, has long said that the world would be a better place if everybody just ate some ice cream everyday. Rachel, my daughter, took the idea one step further to say that daily ice cream consumption could be the path to world peace.
So, what if we could get all the world leaders to sit down and eat ice cream together? That conjures up an interesting image in my mind-a big, circular table, like the one at the UN, with the leaders of the Arab nations, the Israelis, the North and South Koreans, the third world nations, and all the others, eating their favorite ice cream. They would casually talk about how much they enjoy their favorite flavor and how they secretly admired various qualities in each other. Would that bring world peace? I doubt it, but it would be fun to try.
However, the Bible tells us that there will be a “world summit meeting on peace” at which people from every nation will gather around a banquet table. I don’t know if ice cream will be on the menu, but the Scriptures say, People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29 NIV) Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 19:9 NIV) It appears that this event will happen after the Second Coming of Christ. All true believers will gather for the wedding feast of Christ and His church. Undoubtedly, it will be a very grand and exciting banquet, more splendid than any wedding reception the world has ever seen.
World peace may not be a reasonable expectation any time soon, because Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars throughout the last days before end of the world. (Matthew 24:6-7) But also, He urged us to be peacemakers in the mean time. (Matthew 5:9)
So, while we wait for His return, we should try to promote peace on earth-peace with God and peace among people. We must learn to love others as much as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:39) We must have a humble servant’s heart, considering others better than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3-4) If that means we buy an ice cream cone, then we do it. (By the way, I prefer chocolate, in case you want to make peace with me.) Or, if it means forgiving someone who has offended us, we must do that, too. In any case, we ought to be the ones who initiate the peace process.
I think world peace would take a giant leap forward, if government leaders would put Christian love and humility into practice. On the other hand, I am confident there will be more peace in our little part of the world, if we practice Christian love and humility towards others around us.
May God help all of us to be His peace ambassadors. Enjoy the ice cream! Shalom!
Remember, God loves you and so do I.
Phil
Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter