Some of you love to work with jigsaw puzzles. You take a jumble of disconnected pieces and arrange them in the right order. Certain folks are so proud of their work they glaze and frame the finished product. Easy to understand why. The tedious task of interlocking the curves and the humps at just the right place can result in a satisfying and beautiful picture.

Don't we love to see the pieces fit together?
Wouldn we love to see the same in life? But try as we might, the pieces seldom fit as neatly as a finished puzzle. Irregular parts inevitably linger. Gaping holes sometimes result. You've encountered these pieces. You know their names: unexpected death, cheating spouse, cancer-ridden kids. Some pieces just don't fit into our puzzle.

And, these days, our country is facing yet another one clumsy piece of the human puzzle: war. At this writing, war has just begun. What are we supposed to do with war? A quarter of a million American troops are marching in the sand of foreign soil. Even as I write, bombs seek targets, bullets rob youth, and soldiers interrogate prisoners. With only one step into the new millennium we face an ancient question: Why does God allow war?

The question is not a new one. According to the Canadian Army Journal, war has dominated documented history. Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace. During this period there have been 14,531 wars. An estimated 3,640,000,000 lives have been lost in them. The value of them would pay for a golden belt around the world, 97 miles wide and 33 feet deep.

War, so costly. War, so awful. The dying, the maiming. Those who aren't scarred physically are likely to be scarred emotionally. War bookmarks history and lives. We divide history into pre- and post-war eras. People are remembered as ones who fought in such-and-such war. The smoke of battle lingers long after the bodies are buried and the armistice is signed.

Then why does God allow it? The answer begins by looking at the puzzle from his perspective. My limited experience with jigsaw puzzles has taught me the importance of the picture on the outside of the box. If you don't see the picture from the angle of the maker, the challenge is just too great. If we don't see war and human conflict from God's perspective, our discussion will be futile. Any discussion of war must revolve around the character of God.

First, remember that we have a loving God. Scripture overflows with this essential truth.

"He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth." (Psalm 33:5) "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.' " (Jeremiah 31:3) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1) "I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion." (Hosea 2:19)

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