God’s Equation For Peace

God’s Equation for Peace

Hebrews 13:20-21

Introduction:

Politician’s promise it, beauty pageant constants propagate it, and world leaders promote it. Humanity has searched for this seemingly elusive precious commodity since Adam and Eve were dragged, kicking and screaming, from the Garden of Eden. Even the Anti-Christ will use the promise of it to rally the world’s politicians, religious leaders and military might to his side during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation period. What are we talking about? Peace. The good news is that even though many, and you may be one of them, have been unable to attain peace, peace is offered.

Years ago my wife and I were stationed on the island of Guam. We used to take hikes on boney trails to undeveloped parts of the island. On one such trip we discovered a cave of historical value. It was in this cave that a Japanese soldier lived for many months after the WWII, after peace had been announced, he lived unaware of the gift of peace and so his life suffered. Oh how that seems to fit the lives of so many Christians. Peace has been offered and yet folks fail to claim it and are tricked into dying in the devils cave instead of living in light of our Saviors mansion!

There is peace. And God has an equation for this peace. First:

His Way – Some look for peace from:

• Culture (non-lasting peace from the world): “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”-John 14:27 The world does offer and give peace to those who seek it; however it is a peace that is not lasting. This is a peace that is fleeting and found in things like alcohol, drugs, power, position, popularity, wealth, health, etc. These things change and are only transitory.

I have gone down this road before I met Christ and even when things were all well, even when my “inventory” was in abundance and accounted for, there was always something missing (late at night in MA).

• Creation (non-lasting peace from man-made religions: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”-Prov. 14:12 All religions and cults and ways to heaven, outside of Christ, could be likened unto the Titanic. In 1912 the passengers trusted the certainty of the builders, the pompous and arrogant propaganda from White Star and believed in the competence of the crew. Titanic was hailed as a ship “even God could not sink”, and yet, tragically it did. Religion is calling billions of people to board a luxury liner, decorated, beautiful, and big and sending the message that all is well, yet the Bible tells us this liner will have the same fate, a fate of death for all who board. The sad truth is that even the most dedicated to these false religions worship man made images of things like Buddha who remains silent and ungrateful. **Story of Tazewell visitation-looked over at altar as if wondering if Buddha even cared**

• Carnality (non-lasting peace from playing the game): **Playing church as children-Good=stay, bad=leave!** “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”-Mt. 23:27-28 While you may not go to hell for your hypocritical lifestyle, there may be some around you who will because of your lifestyle. Your testimony is the most powerful, yet fragile tool that you possess to make a difference in this world. **Anton LaVey, the author of the Satanic Bible and former High Priest of the Church of Satan wrote this in the flyleaf of the Satanic Bible “On Saturday night I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing the organ for tent-show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday night they’d be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence. I knew then that the Christian Church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man’s carnal nature will out!”

The Apostle Paul informed the Roman church “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”-Rom. 8:6 (NO GOD NO PEACE KNOW GOD KNOW PEACE)

• Christ (lasting peace from the Creator): “And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” -Phil. 4:7 This is how Charlie can still have joy through his trials, how Martie and Carol can face tomorrow not knowing where the next paycheck will come. These folks have discovered that peace can’t be found in relationships, health, religion, the world or by simply dotting your weekly religious “I” through a life of hypocrisy. They have found that peace, real, lasting peace that can’t be touched by man or circumstance nor understood or comprehended, that this kind of peace only comes from a risen, living Savior in Jesus Christ.