Something to think about

Something to think about
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
I cannot make anyone who does not want to believe in God, believe in God. All I can say is I believe in God.
It seems to me however when men in a position of power loose there fear of God or don’t believe He exists society seems to start to fall apart.
The events of World War two show that very vividly. Close to sixty million people dead because a despotic dictator failed to recognize there was a God who would one day judge him.
Stalin another despot brought about death, and suffering to all who opposed him. Another example of a man who had no fear of God and like Hitler threw morality to the wind.
Hitler and Stalin are just two of many dictators that dot the history of the twentieth century and centuries prior. Men who came to power through force of arms only to find all power is fleeting. Men who are remembered for the suffering they caused not for the good they did.
One such dictator who came to power through force of arms recognized it was not the way to do so. That man was Napoleon Bonaparte, he said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                                                                                               Napoleon Bonaparte,
The truths of the Bible Love for God, one’s neighbour even one’s enemies are universal truths that even none believers can understand. If one truly loves one will not strive to cause pain.
The apostle Paul wrote of Love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
We only have to look around the world today  to see the lack of love. Terrorist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and many, many more are killing people mercilessly. Out of hate.
A young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis in world war two Holland wrote,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!”                                                                                                                                                  Anne Frank.
Sadly Anne would know what hate was. She and her family were betrayed and sent to a Nazi death camp where she died.
Where love is absent hate can enter and hate is never a refuge. Hate is a destroyer, of society, and of people.
Back when I was a teenager there was a son by Burt Bacharach the first line went like this,
“What the world needs now is love sweet love. That’s the only thing that there’s just to little of.”
I believe the world truly does need more love. At the same time I truly believe that the world in general needs to turn back to the truths of God. Those of love, for ones neighbour, even one’s enemy. In general we need to turn back to God.
The writer of 2 Chronicles states,
“...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 
2 Chronicles 7:14

Think about it.