Many people are disturbed by the fact that there is no enduring peace on earth. Did not Jesus Christ, the Son of God come to earth centuries ago to bring about God's purpose? Did he fail? Or is there no enduring peace among the nations because not enough men and women are working to produce it? Or is it because peace on this earth was not part of God's purpose?

Peace 'On Earth'

The other day I observed something seen very frequently. It was a sign which said, ‘ Pray for peace’. Sometimes the verb ‘to pray’ is not used but the objective doesn't change. ‘Peace in the world’ is a constant. Who is not affected to a greater or lesser degree by the constant turmoil in the world? The message that is seen or heard over and over is: 'Let’s bring peace to the world'. Often during the Christmas season we hear about efforts to bring about or to create peace. Is the peace that men and women long for and strive vainly to create the same as the peace of God that the Bible speaks of ?

'Peace.' We hear so much talk about it—yet every time what the world calls 'peace' does appear—it never stays for long. It is something which man tries to 'create.' What man creates is here one moment, but gone the next! The 'peace' that men create lasts but a moment like the momentary period of time a high jumper is able to stay in the air. Periods of "peace" seem to amount to nothing more than momentary interruptions in a conflict of interests that never ends. Not only is the 'peace' that men create a momentary phenomenon but the 'peace' which men create is a sham in that different interests and values are always present and are always bubbling under the surface even when on the surface no overt conflicts are big enough to create headlines.

What do we see around us? Conflict everywhere. At every level of society. This man against that man. This spouse against that spouse. This nation against that nation. Children against parents. This group against that group. Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc. The names of the participants change, but the roles stay the same. Bush replaces Reagan, Gorbachev replaces "?" Different names and different places—but the beat goes on —and on—and on—and on—and on.

That the history of civilization reveals what it does--a continuous torrent of conflict--is not surprising. Why is it not surprising? Because world history is only illustrating or revealing what the Bible has been saying all along. The Bible says what is happening today and what has been happening since the beginning of human history is the outworking of sin. Sin has not ceased coming to expression in this way. Why is what we see happening in the world around us happening? Because human beings are what they are. Ever since the Fall the
human race—the descendants of Adam and Eve—have behaved like the sinners that the Bible says they are. What else can you expect? Do you expect to see water turn into something other than water? Do you expect water to develop the ability to run up hill? What does the Bible say? "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." (Jeremiah 13:23) In the same way that the high jumper ever since he or she was born has been subject to the force of gravity so are all the descendants of Adam and Eve born with the 'infection' of sin. (Psalm 51:5)

The Bible says "all are under the power of sin" (Romans 3.9) This truth is stated in different ways. "Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:22) There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." (Ecclesiastes 7:20) Every human being--not just the obviously wicked --remains under the power, the dominion, the absolute control of sin unless he or she is delivered from it by God. (Colossians 1:13) Even though every individual who believes has already been delivered from the absolute control of sin and has been delivered from the consequences of sin as long as he or she is in this world the infection of sin remains in him or her. (1 John 1:8-10; see also Galatians 5:15) In words which the Bible addresses to believers what do we hear? "' Where do wars and fights come from among you,' the Bible asks. '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' " (James 4.1-2). The history of the world illustrates how true it is that sin is an ever present reality, an ever present reality in the human heart. The divorce rate or the setting aside of all permanent commitments between men and women just in this country to say nothing of the world illustrates how deep the infection of sin goes.

Does God desire that his people live in conditions of 'peace.' Yes, But it is not the peace that the blood of Christ earned for believers. It is God's wish "that we [believers] may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2.2). But the "peace" God desires his people to live in is not the same 'peace' that the world clamors for. Different 'peace's'? Yes. Different 'peace's. The words Jesus spoke to his disciples are very clear: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) The 'peace of God' is different. "Peace I leave with you," Jesus told his disciples, 'My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you' " (John 14.27).

The "peace" which the Bible speaks so much about, the "peace" which is the foundation of the Christian faith, is of an entirely different kind from the 'peace' which the people of the world seek. Was the mission of the Son of God to bring peace on earth among sinners? Jesus answered that question. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 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—" (Matthew 10:34-35) In the account of Jesus' words that Luke gives Jesus says, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. " (Luke 12:51)

These are not Jesus' only teachings on the subject of 'peace'. "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other," (Matthew 24:7-10) Does this sound like an idyllic future, an earthly paradise in which peace characterizes life? (See also Matthew 10:21-22; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 5:9; Acts 14:22)

Different 'peace's'? Definitely. The 'peace' the world of unbelievers seeks is a "peace" apart from God. The 'peace' the world of unbelievers seeks is a 'peace' to which God is not a party. The 'peace' the world of unbelievers seeks is a 'peace' in which the wrath of God that sin stirs up is irrelevant. But the 'peace' which God desires for his people is peace WITH God. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1; see also Colossians 1:21; 2 Peter 3:14)

What kind of peace do believers have? The peace of knowing they are out from under the wrath of God "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:35;see also Ephesians 2:1-6)

God's Peace -- What It Is

God's peace. What it is? For Christians to be 'at peace' with God means that 'peace' describes the relationship between him and us. He must be 'at peace' with us; it means that God must not be horrified by every action of ours that is not up to his standards. And what do his standards require? "He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart" (Psalm 15.2). The bible says very clearly, "if a man keeps the whole law apart from one single point, he is guilty of breaking all of it." (James2.10; see also Galatians 3:10). Perfection. That is what God's will as expressed in his commandments demands. Who can live up to such standards? Who can be at peace with a God who makes such demands? No sinner can. "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.  As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one'." (Romans 3:9,10,12; see also Psalm 14:2-3)

Does the human situation sound hopeless? If being at peace with God depended on the behavior of sinners becoming sinless the human situation would be hopeless but it doesn't depend upon sinners' behavior.

God's Peace-- Who or What Created It

How can it be that believers are "at peace with God"? Because of what God has done. Because of what God has done he is no longer 'at odds' with us. In biblical language believers are no longer under the wrath of God. (see Ephesians 2:3-5) The apostle Paul tells believers, "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing to the cross" (Colossians2.13,14; see also Hebrews 10:17)

It is not because believers were born good that we have 'peace with God.' Believers were not born good any more than any other descendant of Adam and Eve was. It is not because individuals who are now believers have ceased committing any sin in thought word or deed (1 John 1:8-9) that they have 'peace with God.' Nor is it because believers have learned how to behave the way God's word says people should behave that believers are 'at peace with God.' The whole history that is recorded in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament show how impossible living up to God's standards is and always has been. It is not because of believers 'good' behavior that believers have peace with God. Not at all. The reason the 'peace' exists between believers and God was God's doing. He took the necessary action to make 'peace.'

The Bible tells believers that "Christ died for us while we were yet sinners." (Romans 5.6,8). The Bible speaks of God making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:20) Addressing professing believers the Bible says: " Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  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—." (Colossians 1.21,22). Because of what God did--He "laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53.6).

If God had not sent his Son to satisfy the demands of his own holy law there would be no peace with God. He sent his Son to overcome the hopeless inability of any sinner (and that includes believers) to live up to God's standards (James 2:10; Galatians 3:10; Matthew 5:48) "What the law could never do, because our sinful nature robbed it of all potency, God has done." How did he do it? As that very verse goes on to say--"by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us..." (Romans 8.3-4).

Nothing in time or in eternity can alter God's attitude of peace towards those individuals the Son of God died to rescue from the dominion of sin. (Romans 8:35-39; John 10:27-29) Because of what God has done believers have peace with God now and forever. Because of what God has done --their sins are 'covered' now and forever. And they know it. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (Romans 4.7-8). "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. / he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. " (Psalm 103:12,10) "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him." (Psalm 103:11)

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" the Bible says. (Romans 8:31; see also verses 33 & 34) Nobody and nothing that matters is the answer to that rhetorical question. That is the situation in which believers now live. "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8.32). Believers know that this is God's attitude towards them. The 'peace of God' is not here one moment and gone the next like the illusion of 'peace' which the absence of overt conflict between sinners creates. Nothing in time or in eternity can alter what God has wrought. Thank God that the "peace" which God creates does not rest on what sinners do or do not do. Thank God that my Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the demand for perfection which the holy God's standards required.

Are not the signs we see and the speakers we hear that exhort us to pray for peace setting God's declarations aside? Are they not basing their exhortation on the assumption that what the Bible says about sin and the human heart is not true? Are they not assuming that the peace which they imply God wants can exist among people who hate God--people who say in their hearts ' there is no God'? (Psalm 14:2-3; see also Romans 3:9,10,12)  Praying to God for the peace on earth that men long for, praying for the peace on earth that men and strive for makes as much sense as praying that a person in a bathing suit who goes swimming doesn't get wet—ridiculous. Absurd. But it is far worse than absurd--it is saying something untrue about God and contradicts what God does say. To believe that peace on earth can come into existence among God haters/God deniers amounts to an outright denial of what God says about sin in the human heart. To encourage people to believe that the peace which the death of Christ earned can come about on earth among such people is not only not godly; it is anti-godly; it is substituting what men want for what the word of God says Christ's obedience and death accomplished. It is treating God's purpose as either non-existent or as totally unimportant. (What kind of activity by men could be a more treasonous, a more God-dishonoring activity?)

There is no peace and can be no peace with God unless the demands of God's holy law are met. There is no peace with God unless individuals acknowledge God and that God's Son satisfied the demands of that law for every believer by his obedience and sacrificial death on the cross. God says so. (John 3:16, 36; 8:24) Can it be godly to pray for such a 'peace?

God's purpose--peace on earth or a different objective? A different objective. Different 'peace's. Yes. What does the Bible say about the 'peace of God' which exists in the midst of turmoil and human conflict on earth? (John 16:33) The Bible says that the 'peace' which God brings about "transcends all understanding." The complete verse says: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) The illusion of peace that the absence of overt conflict which hides  the ever-bubbling cauldron of hostility and conflict of interest that the illusion rests on is not the peace the Bible speaks of.

(If you appreciate what you read here please tell your friends about this URL and sign my guest book on the homepage. Also, if, as you read any of the meditations, you feel you know of a situation that beautifully illustrates any of the points made I would be delighted to learn of it. I might incorporate it.)   mailto:camppp21355@comcast.net

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