Years ago there was a popular bumper sticker that read—“Visualize World Peace”. Peace is something that most people long for–but in a world filled with violence, conflict and strife–peace seems to be nothing more than an elusive dream.

Today’s headlines shout about the absence of peace. Demonstrators in Dallas protesting police shootings had to flee when gunfire erupted, killing 5 policemen and wounding 7 others. Other reports tell us that the war in Afghanistan will continue. Factions in the Mideast continue to kill one another. My own little town is still reeling from 2 separate shootings that took the lives of young, innocent members of our community.

Jesus certainly was right when he said that there would be continuing violence—wars and rumors of wars.

When will it all end? Who can put a stop to the senseless killings? Is there any hope?

Yes, there is hope, and that hope is in Jesus Christ. Someday Jesus will intervene. He will declare that time is no more, eternity will be ushered in, and all the violence will come to an immediate end. Every tear will be wiped dry and there will be no more pain or suffering.

In the meantime, we need to pray for peace, and we need to do whatever we can to promote peace in our little corner of the world. However, only Jesus can bring true and lasting peace.

Come, Lord Jesus!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6.