Put an end to violence!
The more we
advance in time, the more violence is threatening our world.
We are
approaching the end of times and this world is getting darker and darker
because the Prince of this world is called Prince of darkness. By the way, did
you note that rather recently Europe sees its power and its influence growing
worldwide: it is indeed the first time in history of the world that the word
Europe has taken a political sense. Europe is no
longer a continent divided between countries warrying against each other. No
today, Europe is a political and economic entity whose main purpose is to increase
its power and to make money by trading activities!
But many people
are ignoring the origin and the meaning of the word Europe. The root of this
word is from the Greek word Erebos, itself coming
from the Aramaic erev which means darkness! Please
keep this in mind as it is a kind of symbolic attached to the future of Europe!
The Bible is warning about the
dangers that mankind will spread worldwide during the end time (II Timothy 3:
1-5):
" 1But know this,
that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, 5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! "
Isn’t humanity today so different
from what Paul has written above and he wrote this almost two thousand years
ago.
The behaviour
of people is most often influenced by the violence which is dominating their
body and which can often have extreme consequences. You can see them in the
world today:
Multiple wars, attacks, crimes,
abductions, abuse of children and defenseless people, injustice rendered by
what is called "justice" and the police.
We who are reading this, let us be careful because we might think that we are perfect while we
are maybe completely wrong!
Violence can take hold of us in
subtle ways when we become violent through our actions, our words or even more subtly
by our thoughts. If we indulge in these attitudes, we run the risk of becoming
like the people Paul is describing instead of moving away from them as he is advising
us to do.
If Paul gives us such advice to move
away from people unable of any self-control and ready to become violent , it is for
our good because we risk contagion. Violence calls for violence and step by
step, staying in its neighborhood, we might enter in its kingdom.
Our Father in Heaven provides us
with a very effective weapon to protect us from violence and its by-products.
This weapon is described in the Bible which, I would like to remind you, is
like a lamp on our way if we are believers (Psalm 119: 105).
This weapon is
GENTLENESS!
Gentleness is indeed the opposite to violence and it is also a fruit of the Holy-Spirit:
" 22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 GENTLENESS,
self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22 - 23)
Paul, in his epistle to the
Philippians, in chapter 4 and in verse 5 is encouraging believers to make their
gentleness known, especially soon before the return of our Lord:
" Let your gentleness
be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. "
Note also that the prophecy reveals
that gentleness is one of the attributes of Jesus Christ, according to Matthew
chapter 21, verse 5:
“Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem), ‘Behold, your
King is coming to you, Gentle and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of
burden.’”
Moreover the powerful authority that
our Savior will exercise during his reign will be in complete harmony with his gentleness.
Indeed, on the contrary of the impression we might have, authority and
gentleness are going hand in hand in the coming kingdom of Yehoah
and of His son.
Make gentleness grow in you!
There are many ways to grow the gentleness
brought in you by the Holy Spirit. On way in particular is the self-control of your
body. Remember that Jesus taught us that by understanding and practicing
physical laws, we have access to the understanding of their spiritual dimension
as indicated in Matthew 5.
Full breathing, it may surprise you, but this is an efficient and simple way to improve
our gentleness! Indeed, many people these days are from time to time upset and under
stress, anxious and filled with worries. This is an indication of a latent
state of violence which might break out for no serious reason. People in this
state often breathe poorly and use only part of their chest capacity which is
about 5 liters. These people somehow despise the lungs that our Creator has
given us to live. Experience shows that women tend to use only the upper part
of the lungs while men breathe from the stomach.
To breathe only half is as if we
were only walking on one foot when we have two!
So let's apply ourselves to breathe
as much as possible slowly and deeply so as to fill both the top and the bottom
of our lungs that are just waiting to serve us. This will help us to avoid losing
control even in difficult situation and being violent.
Politeness is teaching us to respect and listen attentively to those around
us. Politeness is also teaching how to speak with the right tone without ever
using arrogance. The opposite example of politeness is the one shown in the
book of Daniel, chapter 7 and verse 8, when he describes the behavior of little
horn that will exist during the end-time:
" I was
considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up
among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots.
And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking
pompous words.... "
This little horn is inspired by the
Devil whose violence is well-known. For instance, read in Revelation 12: 12-18.
If we have an arrogant facing us,
let us mentally move away from him and do not let ourselves be carried away by
the spiral of violence. Paul makes an important recommendation about this in
Ephesians, chapter 5 and verses 3 and 4:
"3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not
even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks.. "
This is why the proverbs encourage
us to speak gently:
" The wise in heart
will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning."
(Proverbs 16:21)
Patience and
self-control are closely
linked to gentleness.
First of all, patience because it helps
us to endure all the aggressive words we can be told or the action done against
us without responding to violence by violence! But it enables us also to be
ready to respond when necessary and our responses will be always helpful for some
of the people around us. Let us read how Peter explains this to us in his first
epistle, chapter 3, verses 13 to 17:
" 13 And who is he
who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But
even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not
be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Yehoah Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when
they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may
be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is
the will of Elohim, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. "
Self-control,
like patience and temperance are fruits of the Holy Spirit! Self-control helps us to be vigilant so that our gentleness does
not lead us to carelessness. We must not become gentle without any taste and become
like the false image that the world has dared to build for Jesus Christ. The
Christian is not a man of compromise but on the contrary, he is a fighter for
his conviction.
Each day, let us prepare ourselves more for the return of our Lord
by fighting against the diseases with which the world, seduced by the Devil, is
affected.
Violence awaits us at all corners and to be able to avoid its grip,
let us use the weapons that our Creator has offered us:
Let’s take a good full breath and develop in ourselves the three
fruits of the Holy Spirit which are
gentleness,
patience and self-control.
Let us ask our Father for His help to make them grow in us.