Tags
Related Posts
Share This
Peace of Mind
[audio:PeaceOfMind.mp3|titles=Peace of Mind|artists=Christian St John]
Download this Podcast
Subscribe: RSS Feed | iTunes | Zune | Google | My Yahoo | Twitter | Technorati | FaceBook | Myspace | YouTube
Today, 21 September 2009, is Peace One Day a day of non-violence and ceasefire, a 24 hour-long platform for life-saving activities around the world. The idea for Peace One Day came from filmmaker Jeremy Gilley in a quest to make this world a beeter place to live, an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date – 21 September. (Read more about it here)
Peace. Something we have all wanted; something that we feel our children deserve; but peace is something that is usually far from reach. Sure, we here in the Western World live in relative peace and safety, but with the press of an ON button our eyes and ears are filled day after day with the images and sounds of wars, disasters, hate, and death. I think if we’re honest most of us long for peace in this world, but like John F Kennedy once said, “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.”
The question that many of us have asked, that dares to be asked, that must be asked – “Will we ever have global peace?”
In Matthew 24 Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place… Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”
Jesus is sitting with his disciples and I’m sure they were looking for words of comfort when they asked him, “What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (vs3) But Jesus could offer no such comfort as he knew that wars, violence, hate, and such are just part of who we are – that we are often our own worst enemies… we long for peace but then harbour hate in our hearts for our brother.
But believers are different – at least we are trying. Surely there’s some good news for us? Listen to the following verses, “Then you (the believers) will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt 24: 9-13)
“Come on Chris, you’re not one of those doom mongers are you?” I hear you… I really do. I would love to believe that there will be World peace and I honestly applaud those who stand up to make even one day better for even a few people. But I have to listen first and foremost to what my God and King Jesus says on this issue.
In a similar discourse in John 15 and 16 Jesus talks about how the world hates disciples and he goes on to say, “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.” Jesus says that like him if we as believers look to the world for peace we will find none. But He tells us that if we look to him we will find peace.
So what does this peace look like? Well Philippians 4: 6-7 gives us a clue – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What a powerful passage of Scripture! What a wonderful promise! Jesus says that in this world we will find no peace but in Him we will find a peace that defies all logic – a peace that no one can explain but that all can experience!
So prayer is the key to peace. Notice how Paul puts it – “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving…” Paul is not referring to three types of prayer here, he is emphasising the role of prayer in a believers life to gain access to the peace of God. The fact is people seek out therapists and shrinks to find some form of peace in their worry or fear filled lives. Paul says that we can go directly to God and by speaking to Him we can know true peace and experience a peace that dumbfounds even the most brilliant mind.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
September, 2009