Afghanistan’s Salvation
By Beth Peltola
While Islam’s swift and rumoured brutal conquest through Afghanistan to Kabul, might have taken much of the world by surprise, a quick look at Islam’s past impact on the world, shows us that we are seeing history repeat itself.
The fear, or urgency, expressed during the first weeks of August 2021, in those fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, reflect the same environment as those fleeing to Northern Europe, soon after Islam’s first invasion into Southern Europe, in 711 AD.
Four hundred years later, nothing had changed. Eye-witness accounts tell us of Jews, Christians and Muslims fleeing to Crusader citadels, from the conquest of Islamic warriors.
The Bible reports many such a story and provides the reasons for why these things happen. For God’s people there is always redemption and rescue; but the West is no longer Christian, nor is Afghanistan, and when the West now dabbles in other nations, it does not bring with it Christ’s healing hand and manner of life.
The West, with moderate Islamic leaders, might be able to protect, or provide a temporary sense of ‘peace’, encouraging modernity, building roads and schools; Good works enabled by sheer military power. Yet once that same military is removed, the vulnerable are left to fend for self, without any knowledge of the Saviour called the Christ - the Man from Heaven who is the ultimate warrior. Without Him, their lot is devastating.
That Victorious warrior is far from the minds of many Westerners. If not Christ, what does the West have to offer? European and American inner-turmoil, nasty battles between ideas, and tug-of-wars between desired norms and culture, has no place in conservative lands. Those lands, including Islamic, see how Western policies have become disastrous to its people. Tribal war is as much on our streets as elsewhere, all-be-it still somewhat contained, just. Islamic politics hasn’t helped the East either. So what now?
Human beings can continue to neglect the ultimate solution and look to self instead; but that’ll just continue to lead to brokenness and conflict. Political theories and debates might ensue, ‘Cobra’ meetings or zoom calls with top officials, might abound. Some go on holiday or work from their mansions. Lots of Ideas will be flung out. Debates will be ongoing. Theories constantly explored. Opinions shared ad nauseam (this too is yet another). That’s all society seems to offer, with a glaring hole in its narrative(s)- no mention of the Saviour.
Human beings, and much less politicians, cannot get to the heart of the Taliban. They can’t transform them. They might use brute force to keep them at bay for a few years, but hearts and minds have not changed.
Humanity has a few choices
Continue trying to remedy its ongoing conflicts without any supernatural help, although one look at Western society leaves little room for hope.
Turn to moderate Islam, which, if Islam’s texts are ignored, might provide a temporary peace, but only if the Qur’an, the biographies of Muhammad and Islamic law are ignored; And even if they are, human nature is still present, and that, unbridled, never helps anyone.
Or, look up to the One who made us - the King Who will intervene. The Man of Heaven, who will hear, when we call on His name. The One who rules rightly, brings long-lasting justice and freedom. The One who will remain behind in the midst of battles, never abandoning the defenceless. He will give courage to those that need it, abundant wisdom, His strength to survive miraculously, or die valiantly; both are fine if we belong to Him, as death is only a door to the next stage of life.
This same Lord Jesus was spot on when He explained to us the compromise of following Human Kingdoms over His:
“This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” (1 Samuel 8:10-18 NKJV)
Yes, we see this very scenario, world over. We no longer live in freedom in any part of the world. We don’t have the King leading us directly, because we chose human rule instead. Our leaders don’t serve, they dictate and try to control. Like Afghanistan, we can’t rely on human rule. Afghanistan has made us wake up to our failures, and theirs. Both looked to broken leaders for help, neither looks to the righteous Ruler.
It’s all rather depressing. Yet the solution is so simple. Look up! Look up to Jesus. Remember Him and He will remember us. He shows us, throughout history, how to do just that.
Here’s an example from 3000 years ago:
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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)
The whole story can be found here, this too after a time of captivity and warfare, when brokenness was felt by the land.
Control, power, cruelty, and hate of others permeates our lands, yet if we would only realise our inability to remedy the situation alone, the way forward would be found.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.(1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV)
The solution is simple: Acknowledge Christ as King, and solutions will naturally come.
