Peace is an essential commodity. Everyone wants peace but many do not know how to attain it. Many do not even understand what peace is. We think that peace is the absence of violence and if only we can get the formula to stop all wars and conflicts, there will be peace in our world.
I watched President Obama of the United States speaking in Cairo just a few days after being elected into office, reaching out to the Arab world with persuasive and passionate words. His speech was applauded by a lot of Moslems watching and listening to his speech, describing it as a departure from the policies of the former Administration’s policies. Was Obama able to bring about peace in the Middle East? The emergence of Islamic State is proof to the contrary.
In spite of President Obama’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Palestine, his efforts have not been enough to bring about permanent peace in that region.
When Jesus was born, an announcement was made to the earth through the mouth of angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) When Jesus was born, there was no report of any war going on anywhere. In fact, the life and times of Jesus when He walked the surface of the earth was one of the most peaceful of times in Biblical history. When Christ was born, we were told that peace had come to men. Peace was announced because the Author of peace had been born.
It is noteworthy that when Jesus was about to die, the legacy he bequeathed to the disciples was His peace. This was His last Will and Testament to them. He also emphasized that the kind of peace He was leaving with them was not the peace as the world knows it. It was a legacy which they were expected to pass on to others using the vehicle of the gospel.
When man fell in the Garden of Eden, man lost the right to peace. The serenity and absolute bliss man enjoyed in God was gone in a moment. This was the peace Jesus came to restore. This was why peace was announced as soon as He was born and was also the legacy he bequeathed to His disciples just before He went to the cross.
When Jesus said the peace He gives is not as the world gives, what did He mean? I believe it means that we only attain peace when we become one with God. We can only become one with God when we are reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.
The next question is, “Why are many believers constantly in a state of anxiety and worry?” I thought about this and came to the conclusion that Believers get into that state because of what I call, “The Storm Syndrome”. Jesus and His disciples were on a journey in a boat website here. He decided to take a nap and somewhere along the journey, there was a furious storm.
The disciples did all they knew to do. They tried all the tricks in the sailor’s manual but ended up with feelings of hopelessness. It occurred to them at this point that Jesus had been sleeping through the storm. “Teacher!” They cried, “don’t you care if we drown?”
What was Jesus’ response? Standing up in the boat, He commanded, “Peace, Be Still!”. The Author of peace spoke to the raging storm and there was calm.
If we truly are God’s children, then the peace of God should fill our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Where the peace of God is, there is no room for worry or anxiety. We should be the ones people should look up to in times of crisis. In a world devoid of real peace, you and I are the carriers of God’s peace.
We need to make a difference in the world around us as we walk in the assurance that God is with us and can take care of us no matter the circumstances confronting us. When people see the peace of God demonstrated in our life, it would attract them to you and give you the opportunity to share the gospel of peace with them. Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will watch over your heart and your mind because you belong to Christ Jesus.
God’s peace can never be completely understood. (Phi 4:6-7)
Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the founder of the Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org. He lives in Kent, United Kingdom, where he works as an IT Professional. He currently serves as a Worship Leader as well as Home Group Leader in his local church and on occasion, speaks at invited events. He is the founder of the Biblepraise Fellowship Online Ministry and Moderator/Editor of the Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org
