Society in general has a peace problem. That problem is that there isn’t any peace, of any sort, for many many people. War between nations, tribes, races, classes, religions, sects, political parties, corporations, families and individuals, even marriages, have brought a devastating toll to mankind, for many thousands of years. War in fact is the major contributing factor to all the problems that face mankind. And it started in heaven. Lucifer, an angel equipped with all the mod-cons needful for contented living, somehow found himself discontented. He wanted more. And like the Apostle James said in his letter in the NT, (See James 4:1-4) it is lust for power and greed for things that don’t belong to you that instigate wars and fighting. It is lust and greed in other words that destroy peace. Covetousness therefore (see the 10th commandment Exodus 20:17) is our nemesis for peace of mind, peace between ourselves, and peace in our communities. So the first war started in heaven, (Revelation 12:7) and when Lucifer, now Satan, was cast down to the earth, he continued his war against God by attacking God’s people. (Revelation 12:17). And the first tacic in this war was in suggesting to Eve that she ought not be content with what she had, but desire that (to be a god) which was not hers to have.
How much suffering is caused by lust and greed, desiring those things which are not ours to have. The neighbour’s wife; the boss’s wealth; the workmate’s car; the friend’s reputation; the brother’s blessing (just look at the history between Israel and the children of Ishmael for an example of prolonged enmity on that point of contention);all examples of frequent catalysts for discontent, jealousy, lust and envy leading to fighting, feuds, bitterness, estrangement, and war. How much more peace would there be if we were willing to be content with what we had? How much peace has been forfeited through our own discontentment? All the above are weapons Satan uses to engender broken relationships between ourselves and with God. God is a God of peace. The scriptures are awash with promises of peace to those who seek Him.
For the Christian who is dedicated to serving His God and to keeping all His commandments, he cannot expect total peace however. Inner peace yes, for he is at peace with his Maker, but as long as he is in this world, he cannot expect to live in total peace. Yet Jesus in the sermon on the mount instructs His disciples to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and God inspired many of the Apostolic writers to speak often of the need to seek for and to strive to live at peace, at least as in it is in our power to do so. This is not an easy call. When abused, maligned, persecuted, Jesus calls upon His followers to turn the other cheek, to not return evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good. To love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. In other words, we are to offer peace to those who are even in the process of destroying it.
God desires that we be at peace. At peace with Him, at peace with one another, and at peace with ourselves. Walking down a country road at night as I used to when living in New Zealand may be quiet and peaceful as far as noise and distractions are concerned, but without peace of mind our internal musings can disturb us with greater impact than a passing train. And whether we live in Beirut, Damascus, a slum ghetto in Rio, or a sleepy little country town in rural NZ, war or the absence thereof matters little if our consciences are troubling us, or we are suffering from depression or any number of mental or spiritual disorders that can be totally debilitating to those who are thereby afflicted.
Of course there are any number of fears and worries that stress our minds and vex our lives. Empty kitchen cupboards; a growing pile of rejected job applications; phone calls from teachers or school counsellors and/or constant visits from local law enforcement officers or social workers threatening alternative accommodation for your wayward children; neighbours at war; ‘final reminders’ from debt collection agencies; all these and more are daily reminders of a life on this planet that is far too complicated and unnecessarily encumbered with strife and perplexity. However, peace with God has at its core a component by which we may place our lives in the hands of One who in grace and infinite mercy promises to have our backs in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and provide wisdom and counsel on ways and means by which we may live our lives in contentment and joy.
John 10:10 The thief comes but for kill, steal, and destroy, but I am come that you might have life, and have it in abundance...Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
How much suffering is caused by lust and greed, desiring those things which are not ours to have. The neighbour’s wife; the boss’s wealth; the workmate’s car; the friend’s reputation; the brother’s blessing (just look at the history between Israel and the children of Ishmael for an example of prolonged enmity on that point of contention);all examples of frequent catalysts for discontent, jealousy, lust and envy leading to fighting, feuds, bitterness, estrangement, and war. How much more peace would there be if we were willing to be content with what we had? How much peace has been forfeited through our own discontentment? All the above are weapons Satan uses to engender broken relationships between ourselves and with God. God is a God of peace. The scriptures are awash with promises of peace to those who seek Him.
For the Christian who is dedicated to serving His God and to keeping all His commandments, he cannot expect total peace however. Inner peace yes, for he is at peace with his Maker, but as long as he is in this world, he cannot expect to live in total peace. Yet Jesus in the sermon on the mount instructs His disciples to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and God inspired many of the Apostolic writers to speak often of the need to seek for and to strive to live at peace, at least as in it is in our power to do so. This is not an easy call. When abused, maligned, persecuted, Jesus calls upon His followers to turn the other cheek, to not return evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good. To love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. In other words, we are to offer peace to those who are even in the process of destroying it.
God desires that we be at peace. At peace with Him, at peace with one another, and at peace with ourselves. Walking down a country road at night as I used to when living in New Zealand may be quiet and peaceful as far as noise and distractions are concerned, but without peace of mind our internal musings can disturb us with greater impact than a passing train. And whether we live in Beirut, Damascus, a slum ghetto in Rio, or a sleepy little country town in rural NZ, war or the absence thereof matters little if our consciences are troubling us, or we are suffering from depression or any number of mental or spiritual disorders that can be totally debilitating to those who are thereby afflicted.
Of course there are any number of fears and worries that stress our minds and vex our lives. Empty kitchen cupboards; a growing pile of rejected job applications; phone calls from teachers or school counsellors and/or constant visits from local law enforcement officers or social workers threatening alternative accommodation for your wayward children; neighbours at war; ‘final reminders’ from debt collection agencies; all these and more are daily reminders of a life on this planet that is far too complicated and unnecessarily encumbered with strife and perplexity. However, peace with God has at its core a component by which we may place our lives in the hands of One who in grace and infinite mercy promises to have our backs in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and provide wisdom and counsel on ways and means by which we may live our lives in contentment and joy.
John 10:10 The thief comes but for kill, steal, and destroy, but I am come that you might have life, and have it in abundance...Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
