Continually Increasing

There is an amazing verse in the Bible that should change the way we view world history. Isaiah 9:7 begins this way: "There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace." Rare is the reminder of reviewers of history today that say, indeed, "His government is continually increasing." Obviously, we have a media conglomerate that loves to focus on political strife, corruption, failure, war and trouble -- it sells. There are certainly plagues of problems in our complicated and growing world. But, if we step back and look at the big picture, there is a very real historical perspective that demonstrates the explosion of free governments on the scene. Beginning with some of the social contracts in the English system, including the Magna Carta in the early 1200s, then with America's birth as a nation in 1776, now dozens of nations are following suit at an ever-increasing pace. Are there forces working against the activity and principles of Christianity, including the growth of free government - Yes, of course! And these forces are increasing, too. The light and darkness are both increasing, just as the Bible said it would. Will there continue to be great battles and wars along the way - Yes. But we can rest assured in what God has said through His prophet concerning the big picture of history: "There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace... To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."