The Answer To World Peace

Alba 5-28-2023

THE ANSWER TO WORLD PEACE

Ephesians 4:17-32

This is Memorial Day weekend. Why do we call it “Memorial Day?”... It is a day to "remember" those who have sacrificed for us so that we could continue to have the freedoms established by the founders of our country.

Memorial Day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868. It was originally known as “Decoration Day” because it was time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves.

After World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America’s wars. And in 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day to be a national holiday.

Most of history has been filled with war. Only a small percentage of world history has seen a time without war. While we are thankful for those who have served our country in the military, both those who died and those who (praise God) were able to come home, we know that war is hellish.

War is such a tragedy because it uses man's best to accomplish man's worst. War has no prejudices. It brings havoc on the uneducated and the educated. It brings ruin to young and old, male and female, backwards poor nations and advanced superpower nations.

In times of war children bury their parents, and parents bury their children, and wives lose their husbands. And in today's military, husbands lose their wives. War destroys lives, families and cities.

We certainly see that in what is going on in the world today. For years people have yearned for and prayed for world peace. Why is there such an interest in world peace? It is because of the atrocity of war and the devastation it brings.

What is the answer? Is there one? Yes! There is an answer. But how can we think that? After all, it was Jesus Himself who said that there will be wars and rumors of wars. As in everything else, Jesus told the truth, didn't He!

Still, there is an answer if only people would put into practice what God teaches us in His Word. We would all get along better if we were truly practicing the things God has told us that He wants us to do.

Ephesians 4:17-32 would change the world if people would only do what it says. Relations between people and nations would be better if this section of scripture was practiced by everyone.

Let's read what it says. “17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

These words obviously were written for Christians, which demonstrates that even Christians need to be reminded how to live and get along with others. But there is instruction here that would benefit anyone who followed it.

The tension that causes trouble between people and nations would be lessened if bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice were no longer being practiced.

This scripture speaks of a change which is very like changing clothes. There are things that need to be “put off” and other things that need to be “put on” in order to successfully achieve peace.