Thoughts from My Journey

 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world attended." John 14:27

 All through the Bible there are scriptures about peace. The prophet told us that if we keep our mind stayed on God we will find perfect peace and then later he tells  us that the payment for our peace would be paid by the Messiah. All through the book of Proverbs the wise man speaks of peace. The Psalmists tells us that we should seek peace and pursure it. Even the angels heralded the birth of the Christ by singing "Peace on earth." But what is this peace? How does it work?

 Mercy Me has a Christmas song that talks about peace. it describes a man hearing the songs of peace being sung and yet as he looks around and sees all of the hurt and anguish in the world He sings "in despair I bowed  my head, there is no peace on earth I said, for hate is strong and mocks the song of Peace on Earth goodwill to men." I must admit that I have felt this way before. war, economic, turmoil, abuse, violence, disease, famine, natural disasters all of these things do not give a view of peace. In fact it is as if the world is being torn apart.

 Several years ago I was involved with a drama team, during one of the productions a preacher is witnessing to a group of gangsters. As the preacher talks to them he mentions God's love for them and that they do not want to go to hell. One of the gangesters responds, "Hell, man this is hell." I look around and see that there are many people that have this same mentality. They feel like they are living in the midst of hell on earth. Where is the peace?

 John quotes Jesus when he tells us that He will give us peace. But what I find amazing is that Jesus intentionally says that this peace is not the worlds version of peace. That it is not the absence of bad. That it does not mean smooth sailing in our life from now on. in fact in another place Jesus tells us that we will have tribulation, things will go wrong, that there will be things we do not understand. and yet he tells us not to worry or be afraid because He has overcome the world.

 So what is this peace? If it is not the absence of trouble what is it?

 I think that many times we look at our salvation as the only thing that matters to God. But Scripture clearly teaches that God is interested in redeeming the whole of creation. It also teaches that God not only is intersted in our eternal salvation but that salvation includes everything that we are physically, emotionally and spiritually. In the same scripture that Jesus tells us we will have peace He tells us that it is HIS peace.

 Jesus uses the Hebrew word Shalom when He talks about peace. According to Strong's Concordance Shalom means: Completeness, Wholenss, Health, Peace, Welfare, Safety, Soundness, Tranquility, Prosperity, Perfectness, Fullness, Harmony.

 What Jesus was saying is this, "This peace means that you are in right relatioship with me, yourselves, your bodies, neighbours, and the earth."

 For people to be in Shalom means their life is in balance.

 God saw ahead and knew that there would be times of wondering, times of doubt. I beieve that is why he tells us 366 times in the Bible, "Don't be afraid, Be courageous,"He knew that times would comewhen we would be tempted to lay down our peace and to pick up the worry and fear. That is why in the book of Colossians Paul tells them, "Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts." Peace is something that we must allow to flow in our lives.

 One of the most amazing Scriptures about peace is found in Philippians. Paul sees that people in the church are worried and so he offers this advice. "Do not be anxious about anything. Instead in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"

 He reiterates that we don't just have peace but that we have the "peace of God." One of the amazing attributes of this peace is that it will guard our hearts and minds against the onslaught of the enemy. Paul then tells us that there are some things that we can do that will help the peace reign in our lives.

 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy think about these things."

 God's desire for us is not that we never have trouble, in fact the Bible teaches that God uses the trouble in our lives to help mold and shape our character to be like Him. The peace He gives us in an assurance that, even though things seem out of control and even though we do not understand, He is in control.

 The Peace that I have is because I know that He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. That he has a plan for me, plans for good and not evil and that I have an expected end.

 I look around and see the storm around me and yet I can have peace because I know in whom I have believed.

 There are so many more aspects to this peace and to the word shalom that we do not have time to get into right now but know this God is for you.

 Shalom,

 PT