How On Earth Do We Find Peace?

                                                     HOW ON EARTH DO WE FIND PEACE?

            What would you say if I were to ask you what the most urgent and essential need in the world is today? At the small Beach Tree Park by Lake Massapoag, the Inter Faith Action Group recently planted Eight Wooden Poles called "The Peace Polls," They contain the message, "Let Peace Prevail On Earth," in various languages. What would that look like?  

            While elaborating on loving one's neighbor, apologist Michael Ramsden spoke of a colleague who, while in Asia, asked his audience to close their eyes and imagine peace. After a few seconds, the audience was invited to share their mental pictures of peace.

            One person described a field with flowers and beautiful trees. Another person spoke of snow-capped mountains and an incredible alpine landscape. Still another described the scene of a beautiful, still lake. After everyone described their mental picture of peace, there was one thing in common: there were no people in them. Ramsden commented, "Isn't it interesting, when asked to imagine peace, the first thing we do is to eliminate everyone else."

            Is peace the absence of people? In our current raging wars between Israel & Hamas, Russia & Ukraine, who can truly unite and bring peace between these enemies? Is it possible to live in peace with each other? Who can truly give peace? Paul's letter to the Ephesians gives us some answers. Our study discovered that the Ephesian Church was born due to Paul's three years of labor of love. The Church in Ephesus was dominated by converts from Judaism and several Greek converts. One can only imagine the conflicts between the Jews and the Gentiles disturbing the peace among them. Paul reminds both of them they are one in Christ. Ephesians 2:1-18

I. Oneness In Christ

            When people move from one country to another or region to another, they often face prejudices from locals, such as being an outsider. This kind of outsider and insider prejudice is not something new people have experienced throughout the history of humanity.

            A similar situation may have occurred in the Ephesian Church, which was predominantly made up of Jewish converts. In his letter, Paul affirmed the Gentiles who may have been experiencing rejection and alienation while confronting the pride and superiority of certain Jewish members.

            Vs. 11, "Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called "uncircumcised heathens" by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts." This explains the simmering animosity.

            Pious Jews considered all non-Jews (Gentiles) ceremonially unclean. They thought of themselves as pure and clean because of their national heritage and religious ceremonies. Moreover, Jews considered Gentiles beyond God's salvation. On the other hand, Gentiles resented Jews for their pious claims. Jews and Gentiles did not hold each other in high esteem.

            Walls of prejudice, hatred, and enmity separated them. Paul pointed out that Jews and Gentiles alike were unclean before God and needed to be cleansed, forgiven, and reconciled to God. In verses 14-18, Paul explains how that reconciliation was brought about. It was Christ himself who brought peace to them. Jesus united Jews and Gentiles and made them into one people through His death on the Cross. He broke down the walls of hostility and prejudice that separated them. Because of what Christ had done now, there were no two factions in the Church of Ephesus, namely Jews and Gentiles, but they both are part of one big family of God.

            Paul calls it the Good News of Peace that both the enemies needed to hear and be reconciled with each other. Because of Christ's reconciliatory work, there is no difference between a Jew and a Gentile; they are in Christ. Have you ever felt separate, excluded, and hopeless? Like the Gentiles, many live in this world without God and hope. Their lives are void of peace and filled with anxiety and fear. Many are searching for love and acceptance. The Good News is that no one is alienated from God's love and peace. How on earth do we find peace?

II. HOW ON EARTH DO WE FIND PEACE?

            We all talk about peace and desperately want peace, but how on earth do we find peace? How can you maintain and live in peace when you find peace? Before we go further, let's address what peace is and why peace is so important to our heavenly Father. First, what is Peace?

            In the secular sense, peace means societal friendship and harmony without hostility and violence. Peace commonly implies a lack of conflict and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups—a state or period without war. Biblical peace is somewhat different. Amid war and conflict, one can remain calm and peaceful when relying on Christ.

            The Hebrew word Shalom, commonly translated as "peace" and used as both a greeting and farewell, has rich meaning. Shalom implies more than a lack of conflict. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, shalom means "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace." It is translated as "success." Shalom applies to an external peace between two entities—such as individuals or nations—and to an internal sense of peace within the individual.

            Peace is part of God's character, for he is frequently called "the God of peace." After defeating the Midianites, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means "the Lord is peace"). Judges 6:24. Paul closed his letter to the Corinthians with these words: "Dear brothers and sisters, Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then, the God of love and Peace will be with you."II Corinthians 13:11.

            Peace is one of God's great blessings to those who follow Him. Gal 1:3, "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and Peace." God commands his people to seek and pursue peace. (Jeremiah 29:7), "work for the peace and prosperity of the city." Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9. To be effective peacemakers, one must first experience the three-dimensional peace of God.

III. The three-dimensional peace of God.

A. Peace with God: Peace with God doesn't come automatically. All of us have sinned. As Paul said, we were the enemies of God, separated from him by our evil thoughts and actions. Col 1:21. That was the bad news, but the good news is that God reconciled us to himself through the death of Christ. Because of what Christ has done for us, we can live in peace with God.

B. Peace with Others:  In addition to giving us peace with God, Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross opens the way for us to enjoy peace with one another. That is the essence of Paul's writing in Ephesians 2:1-18. This peace is often called "unity." (Ps.133:1). Unity is not simply the absence of conflict and strife. It is the presence of genuine harmony, understanding, love, and goodwill between people. God calls us to do all we can to "live at peace with everyone." Rom 12:18. This peace with others directly results from obeying the second great commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:39). This kind of Unity is essential to a compelling Christian witness in our communities. To love others, one must have peace within themselves.

C. Peace within Yourself: How on earth do we find peace within ourselves? Only in and through Christ may we experience this inner peace. This internal peace is a sense of wholeness, contentment, tranquility, rest, and security. We all want this peace, yet it eludes most people.

            With our own efforts, we can not obtain this internal peace. It is a gift God gives those who believe in Christ and obey his commandments. "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3. Jesus gave his disciples a gift before leaving the earth. "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27. Are you living without hope and peace? To experience internal peace, you must be reconciled to God by trusting in Jesus and seeking harmonious relationships with those around you.