THE KING’S BUSINESS 389 One cannot but sympathize with the dream of Presi- dent Wilson, and of other leading statesmen of this and other lands, of a league for peace among the nations of the earth, a peace to be maintained by an
A World League
for Peace.
army gathered from all the nations entering into the league. It is a fair and attractive- dream-, but it is only a dream. If the nations banded together for such a purpose, each nation in the league would be looking out simply for its own interests, and, when it served its purpose, would either use the league for its own selfish purpqses or withdraw from it. The Word of God tells us plainly that “even unto the end” of the present dispensation there “shall be-war” (Dan. 9:26), and no amount of skilful statesmanship, even though it be guided by the highest motives, will be able to change this predicted history of the world. But not only do we know this from Scripture, but everyone who knows the history of the past with its Holy Alliances, and who knows the rulers of the earth as they rule us today, can entertain for a moment the thought that any hope can be founded upon the humanitarian dreams of Mr. Wilson or any other great statesman. For the United States to go into such a league would not protect us from war, but only hasten the day when it would be involved in a world wide war. The vision is, as many have characterized it, “a noble vision,” but it is only a dream. The vision of a “world banded together to prevent war, or a universal and permanent reign of peace,” may make an appeal with great power to all lovers of their fellowmen and to all who have risen above petty international jealousies, but, however fondly one may hope that this vision become a reality, any one who knows men as they really are, and knows the future as it is clearly revealed in the Word of God, must know that these vis ions never will become a reality until the Lord Himself comes, the Prince of Peace, and then these international leagues will be unnecessary. they will take a single step. But God’s method is to show them a step at a time. Look at Peter in Acts 12. God led him a step at a time: First, the angel smote Peter on the side and awoke him, and told him to arise up quickly. This Peter did, and his chains fell off from his hands. Then the angel said unto him, “Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals,” “and he did so.” Then the angel said, “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me,” and Peter did exactly as he was told. He was not even sure that he was awake, but he followed step by step even when he thought he might be asleep. They passed the first and second guard and Came to the iron gate that led into the city. Peter did not stop and ask as to whether the gate would be opened or not, but just followed up to the gate and when he got to the gate the gate opened of its own accord. Thus God led him step by step, and thus God leads us. The trouble with many of us is that we wish God to show us the whole path and are not willing to go a step at a time. The thing for us to do is to take the next step that God- shows us in answer to our prayer, and not wait until God shows us the whole way. If we will go as far as we see, the rest of the way will be shown us when we get there. All we need is God’s guidance for today, to see the next step. Follow on step by step as He leads you and the way will open as you go. God guides His children a step at a time. It is at this point that many miss their way. They seek to know the whole way that God would have them go before The Next Step.
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