Saturday, December 11, 2004
PEACE
The Bible has a lot to say about “peace” – or the lack of it. It is evident that there are different kinds of peace. Jesus said His peace was different from the world’s idea of peace. (John 14:27) I have read and heard many stories and comparisons trying to illustrate “peace”: like being in the “eye” of a hurricane; or a bird on a nest in a tree being swayed hard by strong winds. There is also false peace. Jeremiah said, “ ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11)
Life experiences have taught me that often what looks peaceful in reality is not peaceful at all.
Example: If you are inside a warm house, with a crackling fire in the fireplace and you look out at the snow falling gently it might seem very peaceful. But if you are out on the road trying to drive in that situation it could be anything but peaceful!
That shows us that what brings peace to one person might bring the farthest thing from peace to another person.
We are now officially in what is called, “The Christmas Season”. During this season we read and sing a lot about peace. What is peace, though? Do we really understand what we are thinking about and singing about? I think it is safe to say that those who look at the world in a secular worldview see peace as being all about bringing an end to wars. This is not a bad thing. We certainly should pray for peace. We are told to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”.(Psalm 122:6) But I personally think it is futile to pray for the day in this life, on this earth, as we know it, when there are no wars or conflicts going on. Jesus clearly said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars. . . but the end is still to come.” (Matthew 24:6) True, lasting peace will not come, I believe, until the Return of Christ, and His Kingdom on earth is completely set up.
“Peace”, as defined by the Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, comes from the Hebrew word, “shalom” and means “fullness, well-being. A Hebrew term used both for greeting and farewell with great richness of meaning. It is much more than lack of war and points to full societal and personal well-being, coupled with righteousness and possible only as a gift of God.”
One of the earliest Scriptures where the word Peace is found is Numbers 6:22-26: The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
In the context of this Scripture passage, the peace that is spoken of is a peace from God, not from another, nor is it from outward circumstances.
One of the last places in Scripture where the word “peace” is found is in Revelation 1:4, where John is greeting the seven churches with a typical greeting found in the Letters: “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ.”
Not just at Christmas, but always, we who are His children need to be an instrument of peace; the type of peace that can only be found by living a life of grace through God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that God blesses your Christmas Season because you are able to focus on Him and His Son.
Jim
posted by jim 9:00 AM 0 comments
Comments:
Post a Comment
