Searching For Peace

I was just sitting here thinking about a definition for peace and I came up with several I gleaned from Webster’s New World Dictionary.

• Freedom from or stopping of war.
• Freedom from public disturbance or disorder.
• Law and order.
• An undisturbed state of mind.
• I put this one together myself: to be silent in quiet repose

Every one wants peace but they surly don’t know how to go about getting it. Some people think if they go to church once in a while it will bring peace. Others think a national day of prayer will bring peace. (Praying is always a good thing mind you.) Some think if they acquire large sums of money they can find peace. Then we got those people who go off to some commune to live apart from the rest of the world, but the problem here is that the commune is made up of people with the same problems they left behind.

I remember the sixties when they wore those so called peace signs or insignia. It was an inverted cross with the horizontal bar broken down and looking like the foot print of a bird. I was about to get one until I found the real meaning behind it. You renounce the cross of Christ by inverting it and breaking it down then you will have peace from the Devil.

The biggest unrest that mankind has is not from his circumstances around him that is causing him to not have peace. They are only symptomatic of a greater problem. Sin. God says that He is angry with sin all day long. We sin all day long so God is angry with us all day long. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Our sins cause us not to have peace with each other but also with God.

False prophets will say, “Peace, peace” when there is no peace.

Jer. 8:11-12. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD

I came to find peace only in one person, which is the person of Jesus Christ. Let us look at what the Bible said about him.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Isa. 9:6. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Jesus was punished for our sins so that we may have peace.

Isa. 53:5. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Peace comes through justification by faith in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 5:1. Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Christ gives peace and rest to all who come to him in faith.

Matt.11:28-30. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

The peace of God comes through praying in faith.

Phil. 4:6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, Which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus