Are Nukes a Big Deal?

Today, I came across a study that sought to gauge Americans' opinions on using nuclear weapons. The researchers set up a scenario in which terrorists obtained a few nuclear weapons and military action was going to be taken to destroy the terrorists' base where they were being stored. People were shown various "likelihood of success" scenarios between a conventional attack on the base versus a nuclear attack. The results were staggering.

When both the conventional and nuclear attacks had the same chance of success, people went 80% to 20% in favor of conventional weapons, which means that 20% of people are absolutely insane and don't really mind nuclear war even when it's no more effective than a non-nuclear option. But it gets scarier - when the nuclear attack was given a slightly better success rate, a slight majority (51.4%) chose the nuclear option. When the nuclear attack was given double the success rate of the conventional attack, that majority jumped to a staggering 68%!

Furthermore, the numbers of people who said that they would support a nuclear attack if they found out about it after-the-fact were even higher - 48%, 55%, and 77% in each of those 3 scenarios. I find this to be the most interesting result of all - that people are content to be complacent with the abominations of their leaders.

Whether this study is an accurate portrayal of how people would truly react to the harsh reality of using nuclear weapons is open to debate - I have a feeling that people would change their tune after seeing the devastation nearly firsthand in the way that only our 21st century technology can deliver. What it does indicate, however, is that the all-important moral barrier preventing the use of nuclear weapons is not as strong as we may think! 

Jesus prophesied that a time of unbelievable destruction is ahead for mankind:

Matthew 24:21-22
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Humanity will be on the verge of extinction by its own hand, whether by nuclear weapons or some other astonishingly destructive means. Fortunately, God isn't going to let it get that far, as it says, "for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." How can we be one of those elect?

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

We have to do the will of God. Do you know what God's will for your life is? It's a question that we really need to be comfortable with our answer to.