I'm overwhelmed by the frustration, the stress, the anger I see all about me. People are so difficult to cope with. Peace is something, I believe, we all at times dream about and yearn for. But, our ideas about where it originates and how we find it are different. The Bible has several important things to say to us about peace. For example, it establishes that it is a gift, a bonus, for us from God: "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace"---Psalm 29:11. Thank you, dear God. However, it would seem, to really possess peace, we must first be a part of God's people, his family, and that requires that we must accept his son Jesus as our Lord, recognize our fallen nature, and confess him before other people.
Certain expectations---"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it"---Psalm 34:14---are required for our proprietary right to peace. We must repent and turn away from evil to the degree we are able, and we must choose to do good to those around us. We must actively hunt peace and then pursue it in our daily living. It is a conditional gift hinging upon an active intent on our part. Peace, also, requires that we know God's Word [the Bible] and listen to his voice, that we attempt in every way to be conscientious in our service to and for Him. "I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants"---Psalm 85:8.
Those who thirst after peace, who live in harmony, are promised a future---if they are faultless and moral. "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace"---Psalm 37:37. We have something to look forward to, heavenly prospects, not necessarily constant in this life, but ever-present in an after-life of Always Good with the "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace"---Isaiah 9:6. Scoffers have nothing to say to me that would deter from my peace as I know that treasuring this serenity may even claim my earthly existence. I also know the promises of my Jesus are sure: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"---John 16:33.
So, there you have it. Peace. No reason to fear at all for our eternity is secure, as promised. Yes, this life has misery, heartaches, grief, and oppressions---horrors---we cannot understand. Yes, it does require faith. Yes, many just don't and won't get it.
Certain expectations---"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it"---Psalm 34:14---are required for our proprietary right to peace. We must repent and turn away from evil to the degree we are able, and we must choose to do good to those around us. We must actively hunt peace and then pursue it in our daily living. It is a conditional gift hinging upon an active intent on our part. Peace, also, requires that we know God's Word [the Bible] and listen to his voice, that we attempt in every way to be conscientious in our service to and for Him. "I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants"---Psalm 85:8.
Those who thirst after peace, who live in harmony, are promised a future---if they are faultless and moral. "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace"---Psalm 37:37. We have something to look forward to, heavenly prospects, not necessarily constant in this life, but ever-present in an after-life of Always Good with the "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace"---Isaiah 9:6. Scoffers have nothing to say to me that would deter from my peace as I know that treasuring this serenity may even claim my earthly existence. I also know the promises of my Jesus are sure: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"---John 16:33.
So, there you have it. Peace. No reason to fear at all for our eternity is secure, as promised. Yes, this life has misery, heartaches, grief, and oppressions---horrors---we cannot understand. Yes, it does require faith. Yes, many just don't and won't get it.
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