What is Peace?
Peace is defined as "wholeness and well-ness in all areas of life." Peace is an important part of our lives. In the Jewish community, people greet each other with "shalom"- which translated, is "peace". In every letter that apostle Paul wrote he begins and ends the letter with "Grace and peace be with you from our God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."I believe peace is critical and necessary in ours lives. It sustains us, gives us hope, and encourages us to keep going. There are many different areas of peace. Peace in relationships-family, freinds, the church, and with others. More importantly, peace with yourself, and in relationship to your creator.Source of Peace
How then, do we obtain this "peace" that sustains us? There is only one true source: God, our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Peace comes as a divine gift."Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)
This world has deceived many people to obtain a "false"peace. This world advertizes a peace that is found in objects, money, relationships, even ourselves. This is actually no peace at all. All these things are temporarily and after death, all becomes vanity, completely useless.
Solomon, the wisest man ever lived, and one of the richest, he spent many of his later years trying to find fulfillment in life. He writes he denied himself nothing, anything he wanted he had. Anything he desired he would obtain. He did not refuse any bit of pleasure. He even had 700wifes and 300 concubines! He undertook great projects, built cities, still he could not find fulfillment, true sanctification. He concludes all pleasures are useless. Additionally, work, wisdom, folly, is also meaningless. But this is all under one condition, living without knowing God. King Solomon comes to the ultimate conclusion, that living life without knowing and a relationship with God is COMPLETELY USELESS, it is vanity, a waste.
(I highly suggest everyone to read the book of Ecclesiastes! It is not long, and will serve good purpose)
But we are not of this world, and we are bought with a price! God is the only source of true peace. Our peace comes from above, If we know God, we will know peace. This does not happen overnight, it is a ongoing process, knowing God is a relationship, and we must seek Him daily. Growth is comes from reading and applying the word to our daily life, praying, witnessing to others, and just spending time with Him. Although we do live on this earth, our treasures are stored above.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Mathew 6:19-21
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