Messengers Of Mercy

Whenever peace is mentioned, the peace that this world offers what comes to mind, and that is a cessation of hostilities.

But, as I was thinking about this, in a way that is exactly what the peace of God entails, but it is expanded from the physical to the spiritual. Not only is the message of peace the cessation of hostilities amongst us as humans, but it is also a cessation of hostilities on our part towards God, and a cessation of hostilities on God’s part towards us.

Now, that is something that we usually don’t hear from the pulpit, because it’s not what people want to or like to hear. But there is ample evidence that such hostilities exist, and that’s because before someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they are His enemies.

To have peace with God is something humanity has strived for from the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, thus making the human race, and the Lord, enemies.

That’s right, we became God’s enemies because of our sin. And it started back in the beginning with Adam and Eve. The Apostle Paul spoke about this in his letter to the Roman church saying, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 NKJV)

Earlier, Paul said, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10a NKJV)

And the peace that God brings through Jesus reveals the extent of His love.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Earlier, Paul made this declaration. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1 NKJV)

Only those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ having their sins forgiven can be made righteous in the eyes of God. Only then can we have peace with God.

To the church in Colossae Paul said, “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

The prophet Isaiah said concerning the coming Messiah, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

And so, in the end, there is no real peace outside a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul says that this is the peace that passes all understanding and the peace that will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).

Jesus said, “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.” (John 14:27)

Jesus is contrasting worldly peace with God’s peace. Again, the peace the world gives is the cessation of war and an end to hostilities. It’s calling for peace pacts, peace accords, and peace agreements, but these are short lived.