Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

How long does it take to pour out a vial from eternity into time? In my thinking it isn’t instant, that it might take some length of time. How long has man been pouring toxic waste into our water systems which make their way to the sea? We are killing life in the sea and we are getting better at it.

The viles of wrath are poured out upon the earth and from the sounds of it, God is responsible, like He instructed the angels to do this. I suppose one can blame God and in another sense God knew what man would do over the course of history and created man anyway. Man in that sense is the agent of God, the angel which actually did the damage. Revelation only warns us what would happen and we did not heed the warning.

Most of the men responsible for this act have never read the bible, much less connect the prophecies to their acts. These acts are harbingers of our future. We can see them coming true, today. They were written thousands of years ago before man had the technology to pollute on such a massive scale.

I hear men claim the bible is irrelevant, out of touch, meaningless to these times. They deny the power of God to effect change yet write books and make movies and documentaries reporting that the bible documented all this was to happen as if man is helpless to change anything.

If God was so accurate about the events surrounding the planet, the seas, the rivers, the plants and grasses, which have no soul, why doubt what He says about man’s soul? Isn’t man more important than the rocks and waters upon which we live? Why doubt when the evidence is shown?

Romans 1:19-21 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Agent man here to share the good news, it is not too late for your soul.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The day after writing Kingdom Living I am presented with a different point of view to this verse. When you see the word peacekeeper what vision is conjured up in your mind? A police officer, a soldier or perhaps a Noble Peace Prize winner might be there. Maybe it’s your mom or dad that kept the peace in the family. Nothing wrong with that either.

Today as I struggle with the bitter disappointment of man’s cruelty, greed, selfishness and pettiness, I find I have lost peace in my heart. I fight to regain it. I once lived a life of shattered disappointment and I left all that to follow Jesus. The first gift I received was the peace of God. I can now live with myself. But how can I live peaceably with my fellow man if I cannot keep that peace in my heart?

I believe in truth and justice but neither can be dispensed fairly from a heart that is not at peace. I see a world that is bitter and angry and violent while trying to impose their will on others. Violence and hatred does not win over hearts, it only creates fear and resentment.

To be a peacemaker one has to first have peace in their hearts. Love fuels peace, bitterness fuels war.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.