Comment By Torchlight

Diplomatic Initiatives

The closing months of 1971 have seen an exceptional burst of diplomatic activity by world statesmen In September the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, had talks in Cairo with President Sadat of Egypt This was the first visit to Egypt of a British Foreign Secretary since the Suez war of 1956. A month later President Sadat paid a two-day visit to Moscow for talks with Soviet leaders. Middle East problems, and Egypt's policy pressing for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution of November 1967, calling for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, were under review at these talks. Pressure on Israel to withdraw is increasing, but no progress has been made on the vexed question of secure and guaranteed frontiers which is the cornerstone of Israel's peace formula. It seems unrealistic to anticipate any solution to the deadlock unless Israel's insistence on peace negotiations before withdrawal is conceded. While the present impasse persists the Middle East situation remains critical, and undenied reports that Israel now possesses nuclear weapons are an additional factor of great significance.

The recent visits of Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin to Canada and Cuba, and of Soviet Party leader Breznev to France, are evidence of an important diplomatic offensive in the formulation of Russian foreign policy which, no doubt, will emerge in due course. These initiatives were followed by a significant visit of Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia to the United States and Britain. Then Indian Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi made a three-week tour of Western Europe and the United States which underlined the grave situation on the Indo-Pakistan border. All these comings and goings, and more of them are planned for the near future by leading Western statesmen, leave the impression that great policy shifts are under way in the international sphere.

Another important event in the closing months of 1971 was the expulsion of Nationalist China from the United Nations Organization, and the admission of Communist China after 22 years' virtual isolation from the world forum of nations. China is the world's biggest nation and her presence at UNO will undoubtedly make an impact in the struggle for power by East and West which is a dominating feature of our times.

As we observe nations grappling with internal and world problems it is important to keep in view two great fundamental principles of divine revelation: (1) that "the mystery of lawlessness doth already work" (2. Thess. 2:7), and, (2) that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Dan. 4:25). The first is the inevitable consequence of man's rebellion against God which admitted to human affairs the leaven of Satanic power. The second is the affirmation of God's complete control over His creation. In His inscrutable wisdom He causes the wrath of man to praise Him (Psalm 76:10), and in the ages of time works out His purposes of grace in the face of Satanic opposition and human indifference. On this glorious truth of divine sovereignty we can calmly rest.

Praying always

"It is taken for granted by some people that it is no good praying unless you 'feel like it'" They believe that the worth of prayer depends upon our emotional keenness at the time.

"So far is that from being true that the precise opposite comes nearer the truth. Our prayers are more acceptably offered when we don't feel like it than when we do. Nor is it hard to understand why.

"When we pray because we feel like it, we are pleasing ourselves. We want to pray and we do pray, and our prayer is acceptable to God in the degree that our will is in harmony with Him.

"But when we pray not feeling like it, we bring to God not only the content of our prayer but a disciplined spirit. We have kept our appointment with Him against inclination. We have displeased ourselves in order to please Him, and His pleasure is real indeed.

"Feelings can be very sweet, and never to know the rapture of religion would be dreadful, but feelings are too unsubstantial and too variable to be a guide to our praying. Feeling fluctuates with our health, our temperaments, the weather, the news... Our commerce with Heaven cannot depend upon things so fortuitous as that.

"If, in time past, you have prayed only when you felt like it, pause now and take a vow. Vow to keep your appointment with God whether you feel like it or not. You would not fail to keep an appointment with a fellow mortal because the inclination had ebbed when the hour of meeting had come. Courtesy would carry you there if desire didn't. Can you be less courteous with God?" (Sangster)

unknown | Dec 1971
Comment By Torchlight