I sometimes am bothered by all that is going on in the world. Between pandemics and inflation and voting fraud and censorship and the elites seeming to be so corrupt. What is happening? What will happen? There is plenty to worry about depending on your view of the world and of God.

If our view of the world is incomplete or in accurate from reality then there is room for anxiety and fear. But think it is important to understand what is really going on, reality from the Lord’s perspective IS REALITY, not our own. And once we have his perspective we can and should be able to to react with his reactions to everything that happens and may happen.

What is the World System

The kingdom of darkness is another term for the world system. The terms are synonymous and describe a spiritual system which is headed by the principalities and powers of wickedness in high places, see Eph 6:12. Ultimately the world and those enslaved by it are loyal to Satan, whether they realize it or not.

This kingdom has within it, most governments of the world, the entertainment systems, the medical system, the food systems. It seems to permeate everything we experience in life.

This group of systems sets out to control mankind and remain in control of the earth. It does this by wickedness, by stealing, killing and destroying. It conspires against the Lord and against his followers. It wants more power and more money, and it needs and loves death.

BUT despite these facts, the Jesus follower forgives the people of the world in advance for this, we don’t hold resentment or growing bitterness toward any aspect of the world. We also don’t join it or try to fit in with it or to coooperate with its wickedness, pretending it’s ok. But we do serve it as the body of Christ. We share our lives with it, we give to it what little we have and we tell its members about the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ, which will displace the kingdom of darkness that they love.

Jesus Christ is at peace with the world system, he is not at war with it. He is not resentful or bitter toward it. Instead, he loves the members of it. He wants them back. He wants as many as possible rescued from it. Pulled out of the slavery of Satan and sin and death.

So be like Jesus, follow Jesus Christ in making peace with the world. Whatever that means to you. If that means forgiveness, it may mean laying down your personal war against a certain aspect of it. It may mean we curb our harsh and judgmental words and tone on social media. Whatever the Lord leads you let peace be your guide. It’s a wonderful thing to live at peace, to not fret over evildoers. Their time is so short and our time is so long and wonderful in Christ.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Being at peace with the world has been particularly difficult for me to accept. Especially when I must consider that the governments are a part of that world . The principalities and powers who control governments seem particularly evil to me. But that’s just me.

Even the government (which I’ve always had particular distrust and contempt for). Who seem to become so corrupt and populated with such killers. We are to not refrain from challenging them and hold them accountable to the Lord. But we are also to bless them when they steal from us, when they kill the innocent, when they cheat on elections and censor speech for suggesting it. When they spread racism for personal gain. When the side of the government you’ve liked seems to ‘prepare the way’ for a much more heinous group of thugs. But I digress.

We do good to them in response to these things. Yes just like “sitting ducks” we are not to segregate from them or attack them in vengeance.

We don’t fret at what evil they’ve planned and have already pulled off. We don’t retaliate, for when we do retaliate we become like them and their evil spiritual father. Instead we witness to them concerning Jesus the real king. While we wait for them to be removed we pray for them, we tell them what’s coming in Jesus Christ.

Much of Psalm 37 puts to words Jesus’ peacemaking attitude toward the violent and hostile world.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:7-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬