I enjoy history. The events in the saga of mankind are full of courage, bravery and intelligence - as well as cowardice and stupidity. In all of the annals of history, it seems clear that there have only been about 200 years in which we can say humans were not at war somewhere in the world. It is amazing that we have managed to exist for this long without killing ourselves to the point of extinction. But - give us enough time and we will destroy all life from the earth. The explosion of population and of knowledge, combined with no progress in understanding one another and in striving to live and work in peace, has brought us a long way down the road to becoming as extinct as the dodo.
Humans have always followed leaders of one kind or another. As babies, we are totally reliant upon the guidance of adults in our lives. We grow up with teachers and politics all directly influencing outcomes in our lives, We are caught up in a swirl of events precipitated by those in power. Human history has been largely written in blood. Individuals like Abraham, Noah, Moses, Caesar, Paul and the writers of the Bible have had a great impact. Others like Mohammed, Genghis Khan and more recently Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler and President George Bush were all key players in the turning points of history, But none more so than Jesus Christ in His time. Most of us have just been along for the ride. We have smaller parts to play in our personal histories. We have larger roles to play in the lives of our children.
Beyond the impact of humans, there is an unseen spiritual force that has had a great role to play in changing the course of history. Satan (the father of all evil) is the root cause of the misery we observe. Satan is the Prince of darkness (Eph. 2:1-3). He is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). Humans have chosen his way above God's way because somehow they love darkness (John 3:19). In our histories, there have been some major occurrences that have had lasting. Right from the beginning of the creation of humans Adam and Eve made a choice that has affected mankind for about 6000 years. They chose to listen to Satan rather than God. Paul stated that by one man's offense, death entered in (Rom. 5:17). Another huge turning point in history occurred when God completed His warning to the world after 120 years and Noah entered the ark as the rains came (Gen. 6:3,7:1). The history of Egypt and the Middle East changed when God took His nation out of Egypt and devastated Egypt in the process. He prophesied the empire of Alexander the Great (Dan. 2:39,7:6) among four other great empires.
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and even though Satan has been allowed to act as the god of this world, he is subject to God. God has allowed humans and angels to make choices, yet God is always in control. Satan had to ask permission to tackle Job (Job 1:12). God too sets up some kings (Dan. 4:35). He too raises up prophets and teachers. God too alters the course of history - but always without using all of His irresistible powers. Almost all of God's turning points have been to save us from destruction - or to prevent total chaos. His ultimate turning point may be the second coming of Jesus Christ - although there have been huge pivotal turning points beside that.
One of the amazing positions God has taken is to allow Satan to direct and influence many of the events on this earth. God does not enjoy seeing the misery and unhappiness Satan has foisted upon mankind, but He has a great reason and purpose for allowing that to happen. He has already experienced the failure of a third of the angels to properly tend and care for His creation. They rebelled against His laws and His ways. Humans are to inherit even more power than the angels. They are destined to be His family, His children and like Him. God is determined never to give eternal life and an inheritance to a being who will rebel. He says rebellion is worse that witchcraft (I Sam. 15:23). Paul states God's position in an even stronger manner as God inspired him. He wrote: "I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21). Paul had just finished listing the acts of a sinful nature. Those acts include idolatry, witchcraft, discord and dissension. Because God possesses all the power and He controls Satan - it is clear that God is involved in every turning point of history. He is involved by causing that turn, or by allowing it. There is nothing that happens here on earth that misses His eye. It is true that when we hear about the horrors of the Holocaust and some of the inhuman actions of people, we wonder why God did not intervene to stop things. We wonder how God can watch little children suffer and die of disease and hunger. Sometimes our wonder begins to turn to resentment and then to denying that God is involved at all. All of those concerns are areas that seem to cry out for the hand of a merciful and loving Creator - and they do! The shout out the foul acts and God knows them right from the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain (Gen. 4:10). Abel's blood cried out to God from the ground - so God not only knew what had happened, He knew Cain had the thought in his mind before he acted and God warned him (Gen. 4:7). God told Cain he must master the sin and evil thoughts that were in his heart.
There is a great key God gives to us to help us realize the important reason for Him to allow humans to do things He could prevent. He knows that only when humans learn to master, fight and overcome sin, would they be qualified to inherit all He has planned for them.
What we might consider to be the greatest turning point of history so far - could be the second coming of Jesus Christ. His first coming affected the whole world as it opened the door for reconciliation between some of mankind and God (Rom. 5:10). The return of Christ will bring an end to the influence of Satan and an end to war and its attendant evils of disease and hunger worldwide (Isa. 2:4,5). A thousand years of direct control from God will ensue and all humans will experience a time of peace and goodness that this world has never known. These are turning points God prophesied long ago. Even the demons know that the time is coming when Jesus will confront them directly and evict them from the world (Matt. 8:29). Future turning points will include the removal of Satan and the demons forever (Rev. 20:10) and the second resurrection (Rev. 20:5). Finally, God the Father will descend and this world will become His headquarters (Rev.21).
Meanwhile, we are still living before the great turning point of Christ's return. We still observe evil, watch as the innocent suffer and disease strikes the world. We see constant reminders of the needs of many humans as we see their tears and misery. We hear of the constant development of arms of war and the conflicts that are in the areas of religion, and nationhood. When disaster and terror strike close to our homes and to our loved ones, the cry for God to intervene will grow stronger in our hearts and minds. It is then that we will need to remind ourselves that He is on His throne and in control. His will must be done. Jesus knew this when His hour had come (Mark 14:36). The disciples were to learn the importance of that understanding. All of mankind must learn this vital lesson. Throughout the turning points of history, the hand of God has always been involved. He does accept the responsibility - even for allowing the evil and wicked ways of Satan to work here on earth. God is just and He will repay all the evil that was done. His hand is not shortened so that it cannot save (Isa. 59:1) - but He is reconciling mankind to Himself and developing children who can handle all the inheritance He offers. His will must be done because it is the only will that is right. This truth can be our turning point.