Peace in our Time
In the Middle East, we're witnessing an historic peace deal. There's a brokered peace agreement between the Muslim terrorist group Hamas and the Jewish Nation of Israel. Is everything in the agreement going to continue down the road to actual peace? Only time will tell.
Of course many theological circles are busy trying to sort out just how all this may fit with Biblical prophecy and the end times. I've read pieces that referenced passages from Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation. So far, what I've seen is cautious about making any absolute connections - but the non-committal consensus appears that this may be setting the framework that takes us one step closer to the 'end days'.
And of course that's true whether any of this occurs or not - every day we are one day closer to the return of Jesus! And Jesus can return any day - God's doesn't have to wait for our understanding of unfolding world events and how they may figure into His plans. One of the best quotes I found in these readings, "Prophecy is meant to prepare us, not panic us...God's plan is perfect, His timing sovereign, and His wisdom far above ours. So we watch - not in fear, but in faith."
It's estimated that over 100 million people have been killed in wars since the 20th Century began. I have to admit my dismay when people protest for peace. Now, I understand that they're taking a stand and want their voices to be heard – but no one is really against peace. Clearly our understanding of war and the price we are willing to pay for peace may be very different, but we all want peace. Very few would ever pray for war.
So keeping all of this in mind, I think it would be very helpful for us to first look to…
I. The Prince of peace
If we seek peace in the world and in our lives, we need to understand the magnitude of this title given to Jesus - and only to Jesus. Let's look at a passage we read just two weeks ago, but I want to add a few verses for context. Pay attention to the first few verses from Isaiah 9:4-6 (NIV)...
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. (5) Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. (6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We don't usually read those first verses there, verses 4 and 5 with that passage. The imagery may not exactly fit with the traditional Christmas celebration where we usually hear that verse. It starts out with a rather violent description, the shattering of a yoke, the warrior's boots and garments rolled in blood. But then Isaiah talks about the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.
In order to better understand this relationship between conflict and peace, we need to understand…
A. God's peace
Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, the Prince of Peace – but then, we find Jesus' own words in Matthew 10:34-36 (NIV)...
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (35) For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - (36) a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
So who's wrong here? Was Isaiah...mistaken? Was Jesus not the one about whom Isaiah was talking? How do we reconcile these verses? It's important to understand that Jesus isn't saying that He specifically came to earth to create chaos and war. He is the Prince of Peace, but the understanding of genuine peace by the people of that time was very different than His.
Many of the Jewish people had mistaken understandings of the prophecies concerning Jesus' coming. In their minds, they were looking for an earthly king who would bring an earthly peace. That wasn't Jesus' real mission. Ultimately, when all of history is done – Jesus will be understood as THE ONE who brought an end to all war and destruction. Jesus is THE ONE who can reconcile all men to God – but His primary mission wasn't to just help everyone get along all the time here on earth. His desire was so much larger than that. Jesus came to bring peace to all of creation for all of eternity!
We need to understand that God's peace is not based on external circumstances. Men can and will start and wage war; catastrophe can be happening all around us, but despite that chaos – a follower of Jesus can be at peace. Let's again look at Jesus' words from John 14:27 (NIV)...
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The context of this verse - Jesus was actually talking to His disciples about His own impending death - but also, in the very same breath, talking about peace. He knew that bloodshed and agony were coming, but He was telling His followers not to be troubled. From this verse and from the prophecy from Isaiah about the Prince of Peace, we need to understand there is a reality - before we can have true peace, there will be…
B. Conflict first
Peace is not something that just happens. God chose to give every person free will. Some choose God's way and others choose to reject God's way. That reality brings conflict in this life.
Before Jesus could bring all men back to the Father, before there could be peace – He understood there would be conflict. There were many in Jesus' day that caught the picture of the Prince of Peace from Isaiah 9, but then overlooked the conflict foretold in Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)...
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (4) Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (5) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
The only way to peace between all men is by every man coming to peace with God. And the only way to that peace came through the suffering of Jesus. Conflict comes before peace.
Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
When Jesus said "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword", he was acknowledging that He was a divisive figure. His teachings would set people against one another. Even today, if I openly preach everything God's Word says, there are many who will call me a sexist, a bigot, and a judgmental hater. Jesus didn't come just to bring a temporary peace between men. Jesus came to shed His blood on a cross to make peace between me, a sinner, and God. He came to give His life for you!
So the offer of peace has been made, the question then becomes one of…
II. Our response
God never forces anyone to accept Him. That's why men do evil in this world. That's why there's war – men choose to reject God. Paul explains it this way, as we continue on in Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)...
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. (22) But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - (23) if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Paul was writing to people who had accepted Jesus. He was reminding them that all men were alienated from God before any of them came back to Him through Jesus; before they were at peace with God. But notice, there's also a condition, 'if you continue in your faith'. God made the offer of peace, Jesus gave His life for peace – it's up to us to accept that offer and keep that peace. Peace isn't something that can simply be imposed from the outside.
The truth is – not a one of us deserves God's love. We cannot do enough good to earn God's grace. There's not a single thing we can do to work our way to Heaven. When we sin, when we go against God's Will – we place ourselves in opposition to Him – we are His enemies. Every one of us deserves Hell. And as His enemies, the only way we can realize peace is when we give ourselves fully over to Him. Peace...
A. Demands surrender
Again, a common theme you'll hear me repeat frequently... When two countries battle, when one truly wins over the other – the winner dictates the rules of peace. The losing nation doesn't have the right to tell the winner how things will be – they lost and they have to surrender.
We were enemies with God. We tried things our way and Biblically speaking, our way leads to death. In order to enter into peace with God, it demands surrender - and that you surrender on His terms. We don't get to tell God what we will or won't do in order to gain peace with Him. That's not surrender, that's negotiation - and that won't work when you're dealing with your Creator.
"Lord, I want to get to Heaven – but don't ask me to change my lifestyle too much. I want peace with you – but please don't tell me how to spend my money or my time. Lord, I surrender – but I still get to talk however I want and believe whatever I want and I'll serve you when I can fit it into my schedule. Thanks a lot."
That's how many people who claim the title Christian live, but that's not surrender. Peace with God demands that you change and that you give over your life, your values, and even your thoughts! We don't get to dictate the terms of surrender!
When Peter was preaching after Jesus' death and resurrection, he confronted the same group of people who were calling for Jesus' death weeks before. He said this in Acts 2:36-39 (NIV)...
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (37) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
That 'all' is us! We are all called to repent – to change – to turn away from our old lives and ways! We are all called to surrender, to submit to God in baptism. And then, we are called to live for Him! And when we actually do that, it's then that we may then discover that genuine peace…
B. May still require conflict
I've read that in the over 3,100 years of recorded world history, the world has only been at peace about 8% of that time and over 8,000 treaties have been made and broken. World War One was supposed to be 'The war to end all wars'. There is and there will be conflict until Jesus' return. That's true of nations, and it's true in our own lives.
We can desire and work for peace all we want – but there will always be those in this world who choose to do evil. Can we compromise with evil? How much evil are we willing to say is okay, is acceptable? How much are we willing to compromise with the world in order to just get along, for the sake of a temporary peace?
In order to bring about true peace, a lasting peace, it may still require conflict. Jesus told His first disciples…
Luke 21:10-19 (NIV)
Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (11) There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. (12) But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. (13) This will result in your being witnesses to them.
(14) But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. (15) For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. (16) You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (17) All men will hate you because of me. (18) But not a hair of your head will perish. (19) By standing firm you will gain life."
We have to understand that by standing firm for Jesus – it will bring us into conflict with those around us; even some in our own families. What price are you willing to pay to avoid conflict?
I'm the father of six children, and I realize that they will all grow up and make choices with which I will disagree. They will choose to accept Jesus or to reject Him. I can't make those decisions for them, but I'm standing before you now to tell you that I will not remain silent if their choices conflict with God's Word just for the sake of family peace.
I understand I haven't yet been where many of you are today with grown children and grandchildren, and I haven't yet faced the challenges that some have. But as far as I'm concerned, on this issue there is no 'try' – it's either lovingly speak up and face conflict, or ignore what Jesus taught just to keep the peace. That's not a price I'm willing to pay. I love my kids too much.
Just because they'll grow up and become adults, that doesn't change the fact that I will always be their father and I will always love them. And because I love them, and because I love Jesus – as part of the terms of my surrender, I am obligated to speak whether it turns "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother".
To bring real peace, a lasting peace with God to those you love, it may require conflict first.
So What?
None of us can control peace in the Middle East and how long it might last. We can't control other nations and we can't really even be certain of our own safety from day to day. But I can control what I do with my family and with those I speak to each day. I owe a huge debt to my Christian parents who loved me enough to confront me and lead me on the right path. But I owe the biggest debt to Jesus Christ who gave His life for mine on the cross.
How do I repay that debt? - By standing firm today. - By surrendering myself to Jesus. – By fighting for a lasting peace no matter what the world around me is doing. – By holding firm to Jesus' promise and rejecting what the world tells me is most important. Stand firm, and boldly, but lovingly, share the truth of the Gospel message this week!