- Religion and Philosophy»
- The Role of Religion in History & Society
Three facts about personal peace
Peace with God
This time of the year is a time of enjoying family and friends, but it is also the time when many people become depressed. Those who have lost their jobs , homes, and even the loss of loved ones may find it hard to have any peace during the season known for peace and good will toward men. In the fullness of time God sent his son Jesus into the earth through the virgin birth and the angels declared to the outcast of that day"the shepherds", glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will toward men. The misconception of that day was many thought Jesus was going to bring peace on earth at his first coming by bringing down Roman rule.
Jesus said that he must work the works of him that sent him while it was day, for the night comes in which no man could work. As the angels declared, Jesus did come to bring peace on earth, but it was first of all a peace that continues to this day, to reconcile God and mankind. You see because of sin by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world and death by sin, so death passed upon all men for all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Sin separated mankind from God thereby leaving man without peace.
Men became restless instead of entering into his rest (Hebrews 4:1). Many people today are trying to find peace through their possessions when Jesus said that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses. A false peace is when everything seems well to a person who measures it by their circumstances. All of the bills are paid, the family is doing fine, the job is secure and there is plenty of money in the bank. Everything is fine from the outside, but on the inside there is no peace for the person who does not have a personal relationship with God. Fact number one in relating to peace is this, through Jesus death , burial and resurrection he made it possible to be reconciled back to God allowing for a person to have peace with God, because by accepting him, a person makes their peace with him.
Romans 5:1 declares being justified by faith (declared righteous), we have peace with God. Peace again is the evidence within a person who makes their peace with God. In other words a person who becomes born again has at that time made their peace with God and the evidence of that required action is inward peace. This peace passes all human understanding and it gains the attention of onlookers who can't understand how a person can be at rest when a tragedy has occurred, or a person can smile and continue to move forward in the midst of suffering and pain.
The peace of God
Fact number one talks about peace with God, but now with fact number two we will talk about the peace of God. Many people may be born again but lack this peace because of some steps that they refuse to take. They may think God is going to take them for them. Philippians 4:6 declares to be careful for nothing. First of all we are commanded not to worry! The word care means to have anxiety about what has not happened.
How many people worry and are stressed out about the possibility of something happening? more times than not the stressful situation never even happens. instead of worrying about everything, we are to pray about everything because the scripture says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. The key word in this passage is thanksgiving because it implies receiving something in advance. It is always polite to say thank you , but this expression usually only occurs after something has been done.
When a person prays in faith they already believe that God will answer the prayer so instead of worry and anxiety there is peace and rest. Notice that the rest of Philippians says and the "peace of God" which passes all understanding shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds by Christ Jesus. Peace stands guard protecting the heart and mind from troubling thoughts and restlessness and allows a person to wait on the Lord until the promise comes to pass. Peace does not exemplify murmuring and complaining, but it will promote faith and praise that the problem is finished and solved. The last fact about peace is that according to Revelation their will be peace on earth during Christ's one thousand year rule and reign in the earth in the future.
practical points on peace
- The peace of God guards our hearts and minds
- We have peace with God by making our peace with him ( having relationship with him)
- Peace helps us not to worry about what has not happened
- True thanksgiving is a sign that we have peace
- The peace of God surpasses all human understanding
- Biblical peace in troubling times
We live in a troubled world and peace is important not only in a political sense...but also on a personal level because individuals who are void of peace, may handle everyday life on the edge causing a domino...