Peace is a topic that everyone can agree with that we need more peace. Unfortunately there is not much agreement on how to secure a lasting peace. Politically speaking, the Middle East has been in the forefront of a region that has lacked peace and has had many failed peace agreements. I am not here to judge what went right or wrong in any of those attempts but to make a couple of observations as it can apply in our daily lives. Isaiah 48:22 "There is no peace" says the Lord, "for the wicked." As much as one may want peace there can be no peace when people are living contrary to the ways that are pleasing to the Lord. The example in the Middle East is simple, as long as there are nations whose stated goal is eliminate Israel off the face of the earth there can be no peace. There maybe times when war is no present but true peace goes fare beyond the absent of war. In true peace there will be mutual honor and respect among the different people's group when no one feels threatened. Therefore I am of the persuasion that peace, lasting peace can only happened when wickedness is removed. Second observation comes out of a thought from Jeremiah 6:14 "They dress the wound of my people as if were not serious' Peace Peace, they say when there is no peace." Peace is not in words but in actions and in truth. The other thought is that when one only deals with the symptoms and not the actual problem you can have what may look like peace for a moment but there really is not true peace. Genuine peace ought to be verifiable. If the right actions do not coincide with the right words there will always be a disconnect in the process of peace. In fact is that does happen then one or the other or even both sides will have a tough time to trust each other. If I do not trust someone then it is impossible to be at peace with them. A personal application to this is real simple. Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends upon you, be at peace with everyone." True peace will become more plentiful when I make an honest attempt to live at peace with others regardless of what they are doing or not doing. When this effort is based upon honor, respect and appropriate actions to the words of peace then there just might be more peace in the world. By the way Jesus did say "Blessed are the peacemakers." Matthew 5:9.
Lord help us to be instruments of Your peace.
Pastor John Backes
