The cry for peace amid a world of discord and war has been echoed across the ages by men and women of every nationality and creed. The quest for peace was even a priority in Biblical Judea among Jesus’ disciples. But, we must ask our selves, “If peace was and is so important to all mankind, why does personal pain and international mayhem only increase?” Interestingly, in Luke 12:51, Jesus told a very surprised group of disciples, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division;” Wow! The Prince of Peace said that he had not come to give peace. Why, then, had He come? Well, He had come to give Life and to baptize us in, to fill us with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 12:49) The resulting effect for those who would be “Saved”, who would be filled with His Life and the Spirit, would be Peace. Remember, Peace is a fruit of the presence of the Spirit in our life. (Rom 14:17; Gal 5:22-23) One of the effects of His Life and His Spirit in our life is peace and that is a dividing factor. In the very midst of world turmoil and fear, we (His children) are able to be at peace. We are unaffected by the chaos around us. We are blessed and our needs met as international financial woes increase. We are walking in divine health as unrestrained disease increases daily. We are living in security as lawlessness reigns in the neighborhoods around the world. Both physical and mental peace are ours because He has overcome the world. John 16:33 says, “I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." There in is the dividing line: 1.) in the world operating as the world operates, trusting in the systems of the world, there is tribulation. 2) in Him, in Jesus, trusting in Him to keep Covenant with us, there is peace. To have peace in the world everything must be regulated and under the control of mankind. That kind of peace cannot be maintained because men are imperfect and outside the presence of God they are constantly degenerating in thought and action. Jesus pointed this out when He said, “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.” His peace is not unstable like the peace of the ever changing world. His peace is constant because it emanates from His life and His spirit and it is unchanging. It cannot change because He cannot change. The very nature of His constancy eliminates fear and we (His children) are at Peace.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 22:06:32 +0000
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