|
| No peace on earth |
|
| |
Peace on earth is something we all want and should pray for. And I’m certain that would be a request God would be pleased to grant. However, I don’t think we should expect to see it in our lifetimes, unless Jesus returns. That goal doesn’t even appear reasonable on an interpersonal level, given what Jesus had to say: 12:51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 12:52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 12:53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Jesus’ words are pretty clear, and perhaps shocking to a lot of people, including me. I find it intensely ironic that the Prince of Peace actually guaranteed he would be a tremendous source of conflict in the world. God does promise peace to individuals (Ephesians 2:14-16, Col. 1:20, etc.), yet the coming of that peace actually brings with it the promise of division and strife. Even within families!!
Honestly speaking, I am not encouraged! I am the eternal optimist. After all, love has completely changed me. And I can’t help thinking that when I share that love with others, all barriers between us will fall, and all anger and resentment will cease.
I want to think that merely by demonstrating a peaceful countenance at all times, and explaining the source of that peace, people will see the obvious benefits of a relationship with the Lord and do the logical thing: believe in Jesus. Thus peace would spread throughout the earth, like a wildfire. BUT the peace of God transcends understanding, it doesn’t come from understanding (quote from our pastor). Inexplicably people reject peace everyday when they reject God. Multiply this a few billion times over and you have a very un-peaceful world! So is world peace a realistic goal? No! Is it a realistic political platform? No, because God will never be on the “ticket”.
Given the Lord’s words, it seems to me that the important thing to remember is the God of peace (1 Cor. 14:33) commands each one of us to do our best (yep, that’s all God ever asks of us!) as individuals to live at peace with all people (Rom. 12:18, Heb. 12:14). That includes the peaceful as well as the combative. When faced with selfish, angry, arrogant, and hurtful words and actions, God give me the strength to never respond in kind, so at least I can remain peaceful even in the midst of conflict.
|
|
| To add a comment to "No peace on earth" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
 |
|
|
| This is the stuff that really bugs me. I guess if things were too easy here on earth, we'd never long to go home... |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
The Christian life is such a duality. On the one hand we have so much cause for joy (God's presence within us, God's favor and blessing, our eternal inheritance, etc.), yet for the time being we are surrounded by so much pain, loss, anguish, conflict. I hate the message that the world will remain screwed up until some point in the future that I likely won't see in my lifetime. I am reminded of the following: 4:3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the `spirit' of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. 4:4 Ye are of God, `my' little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they `as' of the world, and the world heareth them. See the two points of view? Joy (greater is he that is in you) vs. sorrow (they are of the world). Bugs me too Sooz. Thanks for reading and commenting. ~mike |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mike you wrote,
"Given the Lord’s words, it seems to me that the important thing to remember is the God of peace (1 Cor. 14:33) commands each one of us to do our best (yep, that’s all God ever asks of us!) as individuals to live at peace with all people (Rom. 12:18, Heb. 12:14). That includes the peaceful as well as the combative. When faced with selfish, angry, arrogant, and hurtful words and actions, God give me the strength to never respond in kind, so at least I can remain peaceful even in the midst of conflict."
You are exactly right in the last sentence-prayer, it is God who gives us the strength to rest in his peace. It is often a very hard thing to do, because our pride gets hurt along the way and we feel compelled to respond inappropriately. I know I often have to go back to apologize because I speak before I think. God's peace is individual and the world does not often accept it, but we must learn to rely upon it.
Thanks for bring God's peace to those of us who read your words here Mike.
peace
glenn |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
| There will always be sorrow here on earth...but if we have the peace that passes all understanding, then the sorrow will not be the end...and that our great peace and joy is in Him and in our future with Him. |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Amen! Deb you said it all.
peace
glenn |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
I used to know all about the warring with mother-in-law part! But I never tried to make a fool of her; I just let her display those traits herself!
|
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Shannon, I see you've coined a new term "peace-ometer", and given us a great description of the personal peace we can experience as long as we remain in Jesus. Forget about our Lord, and the experience of peace can cease.
Yep, this discussion is wide open. Thanks for your input Shannon! |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
| After spending a while trying to come up with a descent comment I just decided to leave a star and listen for now. |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Dave, I love every one of your comments! |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Dr Thomas, you always sign "shalom", I figured you would have something to add to this. Thanks!  |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
OK such as it is, the more that I focus on a relationship with Christ and the peace that comes from that albeit an inner peace. The less I find myself striving for the peace I use to desparately try to acheive throu approval from others. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
|
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
I really love this blog... I believe the Spirit brought me a very similar point not too long ago... it's very worldly to think that "peace on earth" means every one liking everyone else and no one gets in fights that there is no war... "peace on earth" is more like God's peace is now available to those on earth... i do see though how it is very easy to think the other way..because like the way Shannon put it, its very natural... also even in the Bible there is no peace like the "natural" peace mentioned earlier... the Bible is a great book of war... only the best part...and also where or Peace comes from... is that we know that God and His kingdom (US!) are VICTORIOUS!!! so no matter how bad the battle looks here on earth... the end result cannot and will not be changed!!!!
Mike n Laura, you are awesome Blessings!!!! |
|
|
| August 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mike,
WRT to the duality aspect of Christianity; if we adjust our perspective a little is it possible that both sides are actually a part of the same eternal process of forming real lasting eternal peace between humans and God?
Wasn't "Peace on Earth" doomed with the original sin? And isn't Jesus dieing on the cross a pivotal part of the process for eternal peace for us all with God? So while it seems that the unpeaceful nature we are temporarily experiencing is conflicting to God's plan for us it is actually his design for us to be able to have eternal Peace with him in Heaven. Because like it or not, it does appear to be God's Plan that our existence here on earth (as we know it) will have to end with a massive battle between good and evil (thats not going to be peacful...lol)! So when you experience times of unpeacfulness just recognize that God is at work and he is preparing his battlefield, so that we may ALL experience Eternal Peace together with him, not just the temporal peace that we can individually achieve here on earth!
Maybe that is what Jesus was talking about when he recognized that he would bring divsion. He knew what the end would bring and the temporary mess we would have to live in to finally acheive the end goal of peaceful living with our Father. When you think about it 2 or 3 thousand years of temporary unpeacfulness is just a drop in the bucket of eternity... When we look back from Heaven it will just seem like an unpleasent distant thought that quickly vanished into the night!
Then out of the other side of my mouth...lol I am not so sure you are right about not seeing Jesus' return anytime soon... Remember he will come like a thief in the night! Who knows it could be tonight... I think Jesus said that because he wanted us to live as though we really actually believe that he could be here tommorrow. Why because if we do, it fills us with a sense of urgency, passion and zeal about all kinds of things. It would prompt us to be as passionate and strong like the apostles were when they were preaching that his return is near! But thats just how I see it I could be wrong.
Peace and God Bless! Another star for you!
|
|
|
| August 18, 2007 |
|
|
|
Hey JJ,
Great thoughts! Very well written. The answers to your three initial questions are Y, Y, & Y. And I found this especially intriguing: "when you experience times of unpeacfulness just recognize that God is at work and he is preparing his battlefield, so that we may ALL experience Eternal Peace together with him." Got to admit, hadn't thought of the preparation aspect. But perhaps sadly, I don't find much comfort in thoughts of the <possibly> distant future when I think about the currently unpeaceful state of our world.
I'd like to add a minor clarification. Even as I wrote "So is world peace a realistic goal? No!", I had in my mind that God's end game includes world peace. That partially explains the first line of the blog, which also did not intend for put the kibosh on living as though Jesus could come tonight. Such expectant living is a must!! And also lends itself quite well to peaceful living!
Thanks for taking the time to deliver another dose of truth and light to us, JJ! ~mike
|
|
|
| August 18, 2007 |
|
|
|
What timing... here in our family we're dealing with a medical crisis (not mine for a change!) and while my husband has felt a peace about it, others in his family don't see it that way. I'm afraid that they, who are unbelievers, see his peace as some sort of complacency, that he doesn't really care about the person who is at death's door. We definitely have the peace that passes ALL understanding, but it gets hard to show it when we're completely misunderstood. Jesus said we would be, so I'm not at all surprised, but I am heartbroken for my husband who is trying to show the peace of the Lord but is misunderstood and judged for it. It is so hard to live ON this earth when our hearts are in our real home.... |
|
|
| August 20, 2007 |
|
|
|
Here's a rather convicting thought that came to me while reading: What if the only barrier holding between lack of peace on earth and peace on earth was whether or not the followers of Jesus demonstrated in their daily walks the peace they are experiencing through Jesus in their hearts? If we were honest with ourselves, we'd be guilty of withholding peace from the earth, if that were the standard -- which thankfully, it is not. But kinda convicting nonetheless, since it makes us realize that we often times lack the demonstrable peace that should be growing in our lives as the Spirit produces fruit through us. |
|
|
| August 20, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Great thought, Jason. We do often withhold peace from those around us who stand to benefit most from it. That is very convicting! But I also don't think sharing the peace we have will necessarily guarantee that they'll appreciate it. |
|
|
| August 21, 2007 |
|
|
|
We are always in danger of being robbed of our peace and joy. So I believe it is excellent advice to follow in asking for the strength and wisdom to not react when attacked in this manner and to pray that our inner peace be kept intact. |
|
|
| September 05, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Thanks Mimi! Wish it weren't so, I wish Jesus came to initiate a new peaceful earth NOW! But given the reality of our situation, perhaps God is actually glorified far more the way he has chosen to do things, not the way we would choose to do things. |
|
|
Follow this blog
