JUSTICE THE GATEWAY OF PEACE

CAN WE HAVE PEACE?

The answer is: Yes we can and yes we may. However, in order for us to have peace, we must start proclaiming peace within us that will flow to the outside making room for others as well (Mark 9:49-50) “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another.”  If we are out of keeping with God’s word, we can’t have peace beloved brethren as stated by prophet Isaiah (Isa. 57:19-21) “I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.” But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast out mire and dirt. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Therefore, for us to have peace, we must first of all pursue peace within, then to others.  Peace comes through prayers as well from the anchor Scripture of peace: (Phil. 4:6-7) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Apostle Paul admonishes us to be anxious for nothing, but through a broken heart in prayer and supplication with a gratitude heart, we make our request known to God.

A FINAL PEACE

Isaiah the son of Amoz  declared that God (Isa. 2:4) “He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Implements of war recycled into implements of peace-Isaiah anticipate that glorious day. The prophet also proclaims, “No peace for the wicked” (48:22). Since national and International peace are established only by the great Peacemaker Himself, it then follows that wickedness must be dealt a death blow. His platform is explicit: He shall judge . . . and rebuke.  Both verbs demand judicial righteousness. And justice must prevail if peace is to be experienced.  The Old Testament term for “peace” meant soundness or completeness. Sin and wickedness can never bring peace; instead, they disrupt relationships with God and with men. A sinful person is never truly at peace because a part from His Creator He is never complete. Likewise the nations of sinful humanity cannot truly achieve peace because apart from God they are left with rebellious self-centeredness and so will always be at odds. See James epistle (James 4:1-2) “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” Tranquility and unity are outgrowths of restored harmony with God. Personal peace comes from the same source. Sin must have an adequate solution. Peace was provided for us by Christ who took our sins upon Himself. Christ Himself is the believer’s peace.  Isaiah the prophet cried thus (Isa. 26:12) “Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.” Because of His work on the cross for us, He establishes peace for us as well.  

TO PEACE THROUGH GRACE

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.”  “Peace be multiplied to you”- is a typical oriental greeting? Yes, but much more. King Nebuchadnezzar longed for everyone in his kingdom to enjoy peace. Here is recorded Nebuchadnezzar’s entrance into God’s peace after his struggle for seven years. Here God’s peace is both personal and abounding. It may be prepared only in a prepared heart. Neither ease, position nor power suffices. These led the king to feelings of grandeur and a deranged reason.  While at ease Nebuchadnezzar’s mind was troubled (Dan.4:4-5) “I Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions on my head troubled me.” What Nebuchadnezzar saw and made him afraid indeed did come upon him because he lifted his heart high, and took the glory of God. But when he humbled himself and surrendered, it did pave way to peace for him.  His reason returned when he (V. 43) “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation, acknowledges one greater than He.”  Peace is produced by grace, and involves our obedient response to the gracious will of God the Father, rather than reliance on our own works. Few experience either the personal greatness or the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar. All those who matriculate in God’s school of peace must first comprehend His grace. Grace always comes before peace. And God’s order never changes brethren. And He is neither an author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33) “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

THE MEDICINE OF PEACE

The sons of Jacob Simeon and Levi took the matter into their own hands when their sister Dinah was defiled by Shechem the son of Hamor (Gen. 34:25) “Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the male.” This is the second recorded murder in the Bible. Cain’s slaughter of his brother Abel was the first (Gen. 4:8) “Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Murder may be defined as the unlawful taking of human life. It was for the crime of murder that God instituted the law of capital punishment (Gen. 9:6) “Whoever shades man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” To kill unlawfully is a violent insult both to God and to the victim. It is a crime against God, for it destroys a creature made in His own image (Gen.1:26-27) “Then God said, “Let us make man in Our own image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” It is a sin against the victim, for murder is the only crime one can impose upon another and never receives his or her forgiveness. God can indeed forgive a murderer for his vicious act, but the victim cannot. Jesus however, revealed that murder is more than the physical act of taking a life; it begins with anger in the heart. And for this ailment, the peace of God is the medicine.

TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ALL

When we pursue peace with all men then the peace will never depart from our dwellings. Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 13:11) “Be of good comfort, be of one mind; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”  When we pursue peace and embrace it our sleep becomes sweet and fear has no entrance in us (Prov. 3:24-26) “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your feet from being caught.” Hallelujah, Amen.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13)

“Grace to you and Favor of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”