GRASPING FOR PEACE

From My Perspective - - -

Peace is a word that flows so easily from one’s lips but is so difficult to achieve. There are those with the title of Prime Minister, Secretary of State, and Ambassador whose primary mission is to establish and preserve peace throughout the world. While the diplomatic effort is ambitious, and in some ways worthwhile, there is something that serves as a roadblock to the achievement of compromise or capitulation in order to gain some semblance of agreement to peaceful goals and purposes in the world. Instead of peaceful relationships, one can find turmoil. Instead of compatibility with one another, there is often conflict. Instead of harmony, there is hostility. One can only wonder about the seriousness of the nations in the world regarding any peaceful coexistence. Do they really desire peace or is their goal supremacy over others. For many years, especially during those designated as the Cold War era, there was a fragile balance of power that depended upon the weaponry available to the nations. For the primary powers, it was labelled AMD-ICBM which conveyed to the world the capacity of nations in terms of Assured Mutual Destruction – Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles.

There is an interesting episode and picture of physical turmoil, risk, danger and looming death during a storm at sea. It is shared in Mark 4:37-39, “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him: Teacher, don't you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves: Quiet! (Peace!) Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”  A very dramatic Hymn was written on the basis of these verses. The first stanza and refrain state: “Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is overshadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh; Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep, When each moment so madly is threatening - A grave in the angry deep? (The Refrain): The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, Or demons or men, or whatever it be No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies; They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, peace be still!” Is that the song and confidence of your heart?

In John 16:32-33, Jesus has been speaking to His disciples in terms of turmoil in the world of their day. He said to them: “…the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." His clear indication is in terms of the evasiveness of peace in the world. Why is peace evasive? The answer: mankind is looking to the wrong source for peace. Jesus is clear: In the world there will be tribulation. However, in Jesus Christ there is valid peace because He not only created the world but He has also overcome it. He has said earlier – John 14:27 – that His Peace was both a legacy and gift for His followers. Note what Jesus states: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” In Jesus Christ is both one’s source and resource for lasting Peace.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel speak of the false prophets and priests of their day. Jeremiah 8:11 is representative of what is occurring: “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace.” The NLT states: “They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.” What the prophets addressed in their day, is much more compounded in this day. There are many false messengers who are charming and beguiling great numbers of people. They continually offer a feel-good type of peace without insisting that a commitment and submission to the Prince of Peace is a basic requirement. If the message is clearly stated, an assurance of peace can be given. The song of praise in Isaiah 26:3-4 includes these words: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” May this be your song of praise. Consider these things with me.