During August 1914, immediately after the outbreak of the First World War, an English author and social commentator H. G. Wells published a number of articles in the London newspapers that subsequently appeared as a book entitled, The War That Will End War. The First World War from 1914-1918 cost 20 million lives. It was hoped that this terrible war would be the war that ended all wars. Sadly since then there has been over 30 wars fought throughout the world. At present there are numerous skirmishes and civil disturbances going on in various continents. However, just this last few days a new and deadly war has commenced in Europe by an unprovoked attach on the nation of Ukraine. The Russian aggressor president Putin sent in forces to invade the land of Ukraine on his eastern border on the 21st February 2022.
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest country by area in Europe after Russia, which it borders to the east and north-east. Ukraine also shares borders with Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova; and has a coastline along the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. It spans an area of 603,628 km2, with a population of 43.6 million, and is the eighth-most populous country in Europe. The nation’s capital and largest city is Kyiv. Modern Ukraine is an ancient country. During the Middle Ages, the area was a key centre of East Slavic culture,the basis of the Ukrainian identity today. However, following its fragmentation into several principalities in the 13th century, the territorial area was contested, divided, and ruled by a variety of powers, including the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Tsardom of Russia. During the 17th and 18th centuries the Cossack Hetmanate state emerged and prospered, but its territory was eventually split between Poland and the Russian Empire. On 23rd June 1917 the Ukrainian People’s Republic was declared a recognized country, it became a founding member of the Soviet Union in 1922 until 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved and Ukraine regained its independence and formed a limited military partnership with Russia and other CIS countries while also establishing a partnership with NATO in 1994. However, since 2013 there has been conflict and skirmishes with Russia as Russia once again tries to dominate and control the country, then in March 2014 Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and from then a protracted conflict has been fought with Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Many of the neighboring European countries are concerned that Russia might not stop at the Ukrainian border and might continue its invasion of other old Soviet Union nations. Ukraine and Russia need a peace maker. They need someone who is independent and has shown a commitment to peace, to mediate between them. The western world doesn’t want another war they want peace.
The Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 9 stated “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” The word blessed is an old fashioned word for happy. Jesus is saying that to be truly happy you need to have a peaceable disposition whether in your home, work or among friends. Peace makers are repairers of bridges, and try to seek after harmony wherever they go. These peace makers work between two opposing people or countries and seek to establish a solution. However, Jesus himself is the greatest peace maker, for he has made peace between God and man. Colossians 1 verse 20 says that Jesus “ having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself;” His death on the cross made a bridge between sinful man and the loving God. His sacrifice is the solution to true and lasting happiness for men. He is a peace maker, just like what is needed to produce a lasting peace in this latest war.
P. Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
