The Fight for Peace
John Lennon’s classic song, “Imagine” speaks to our deep yearning for peace.
“Imagine all the people, living life in peace” With everything that is going on in the world today it’s pretty hard to imagine peace like that. The Bible also speaks of a time of world peace in Isaiah 2:4
”[God] will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. ?They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. ?Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
However, we are not there yet. The world is not one as the song “Imagine” wishes for. So what now?
Peace on a personal level
For now, the answer is found in this, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
And in this, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
Unfortunately, in our current era while individuals and nations are left to govern themselves, peace is not always up to us. When an aggressor is determined to threaten the peace of our citizens, we can either let them do harm, or we can intervene to defend those who do not deserve to be subjected to violence.
When you stop to consider the nature of God, who is Holy, and therefore perfect, and then consider his nature and his actions, a clearer picture becomes possible. God is both a God of love and mercy on the one hand, and a God of justice on the other hand.
His justice holds people and nations accountable. He has defended his people by doing violence on those who would harm them. He has done it before, and he guarantees that he will do it again.
Peace needs both justice and mercy
A nation that would choose to honour God and emulate his teaching must be prepared to seek peace and demonstrate love and mercy on the one hand (peacekeeping, disaster relief, international aid, etc) and justice on the other hand (taking up arms against an unjust and violent enemy as necessary).
On the personal level, don’t you and I do the same thing? We demonstrate kindness towards others on the one hand, but if someone was threatening you or me with violence, we would call the police to apply the necessary means of force to subdue the aggressor.
Until God chooses to demonstrate to mankind how to live in peace, we must contend with the fact that some people in this world would choose to do us harm. Nations have raised up military forces to meet that challenge. This band of volunteers have signed up to offer their lives in your defense: to go anywhere, anytime, to do anything, at any cost, up to and including their very lives if necessary.
Although we cannot yet live in a world completely at peace, we can enjoy peace in our personal corner of the world. True peace within us can only begin by establishing peace with God. If you would like to begin that “faith adventure” of peace with God, this page will show you how you can discover peace with God.
Take the next step:
Do you understand God’s justice? Take a lesson
You can’t be patriotic just one day a year. True patriots look like this.
Peace is joy set free by faith. Faith is the foundation of peace. Without faith there is no peace of any meaningful degree. Peace is not dependent on the circumstances of life and totally dependent on the circumstances of your soul.
Richard has said this so well that I wonder what more I can add.
I am not perfect, therefore I often seek forgiveness. Then I again am at peace with God, with my fellow man and with myself. When God gives me an assignment or challenge that takes me out of my comfort zone, I step forward in faith. I pray for guidance, wisdom, patience, love and even determination. Having accomplished, God gives me a new level of peace.
We may not have “enemies”. Yet, to be a step ahead, and set the stage that will ward off possible conflict, we need to begin to cross barriers of race, class, and kin. Love those who do not love you, not necessarily because they hate you. They may not know you at all. That is the point! Show love in some small way to a total stranger or those of another group, perhaps with a complement or a bit of help. Begin to become friends with those who are not like you. Friendships are built and the circle of peace is expanded!