Jhn 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.Everyday, when we open our newspapers, they are always filled with news of wars, murders and tragedies. Without fail at least one contestant in any beauty pageants will speak about peace as her greatest wish for mankind.
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines peace as:
1 : a state of tranquility or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
2 : freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3 : harmony in personal relations
4 a : a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
5 -- used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell
Definitions 1 and 2 relate to peace 'within', definitions 3 and 4 relate to peace 'without' while definition 5 is just a cliche!
While people of the world can only enjoy up to certain degree of peace, depending on their physical location, financial standing, inter-personal relationship, religion, conscience, mental strength, etc, they can never hope to have absolute peace. People of the world can never have absolute peace because their peace is dependent on things, persons, events or emotions that are subject to change! Only Christian can have the hope of absolute peace, because the peace is a gift from Christ (Jhn 14:27).
Christian peace is founded on the person of Christ, the King of peace (Hbr 7:2-3). We do not have to seek this peace in vain, like people of the world, we already have it when the Spirit of Christ came into us. All that is required of us is to let not our heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
In Psa 85:10, the sons of Korah sang about the intimacy between Righteousness and peace.
| Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. |
Brethren, you are the righteousness of God (Rom 3:22), and because of this righteousness, you have also the peace with God and the peace of God, which also guard your hearts and minds (Phil 4:7) from trouble and fear, AMEN.
| and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. |
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