War? or Peace?
What is peace? Because words have great richness, the word peace is no exception. Think with me about peace and what it means.
We will find it helps to examine the synonyms for peace. When we look at the other words with similar meanings, we find peace has two meanings. The first meaning of peace is the state of life opposite of war. When we use peace this way things like harmony, reconciliation, good will and freedom from strife surround us. The human race lives best in peace. We dislike war. We wilt in war. War brings death. War on a world scale is terrible. War with another person brings deep pain and daily hurt.
Peace can also mean calm. This peace is quiet and still. There is tranquility in peace. In our busy, always on the go lives, we find the silence of peace wholly refreshing. We relax in the harmony of peace. It is serene. In war, peace is absent, so are harmony and tranquility. When there is peace, or the absence of war and uproar-we find both harmony and tranquility. This is the best earthly peace.
An example helps me explain. Two days ago, I experienced earthly peace. It was on a walk along the icy shore of a nearby lake. No other person was there. Both kinds of peace were present. No war, no uproar…there was both harmony and silence. My stress level…absent. My purpose for being there was to search out ice formations formed along the shore during the first cold nights. There were many. All were beautiful. The result? More peace…silence, serenity, harmony and tranquility were present. You know how delightful this peace can be.
Let’s call this peace the peace of nature. Of course, it cannot be found inside. Isn’t it wonderful to know this peace is free? The only cost may be rearranging your schedule to include time outside.
Is peace something to be desired? We both know it, both desire it. Where does the peace of nature originate? It did not evolve. Nature peace has always existed. God puts peace: calmness, quietness, stillness, tranquility and silence in nature.
Next question:
Is there such a thing as peace with God? If there is-this is a far greater peace. Can you imagine peace with God?
New question-Can you imagine…war with God? If there is peace with God, then war with God exists. Think of it, war with God. Do either of us want to be at war with…God? War with God ends in death. Since God is just, we deserve death. We are sinners. A sinner is at war with God…forever. Our sins cause the war…not God.
But we can end the war with God. War with God is foolishness, heart breaking, and filled with constant sorrow and eternal punishment. Why would anyone want war with God? The three-word answer is: sin filled hearts. War with God sounds deeply awful and unbelievably futile. Why be at war with Someone who loves us?
Take care of the sin-end the war.
We can end our war with God. We can sign the peace treaty any time. God is always ready. In the Bible we read these words: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” As we confess our sins, God reaches for the pen and with a flourish signs the peace treaty. It lasts forever. The Bible also tells us, "…We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)