Everybody Longs for Peace

How could we find peace while living in a world of turmoil, discord, antagonism and confusion? And how can we avoid weary conflict, while desperately pursuing all manner of achievement? In what way can we live in harmony in an environment of complete disharmony? Where could we turn to in order to experience tranquility in our heart and mind? Indeed, how can we find rest in our soul without resorting to drugs of any kind? These are questions which most of us, consciously or unconsciously, often pose to ourselves. Is there a realistic answer to them? Let us turn to the Bible to see if we can find any answers that make sense to us; any instructions that are realistic and don't offend our reason. "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8: 6) Paul is speaking about the inner peace, the peace of the soul that passes all understanding. Such peace is life and comes only when we fix our mind on the Spirit of God, i.e. when we choose to live according to spiritual principles. On the contrary, if we set our mind on the desires of the flesh and the gratification of our senses, we will never have peace and this will lead to spiritual death, which causes sickness and even premature physical death. "Submit to God, and be at peace; in this way good shall come unto you." (Job 22: 21) Eliphaz, one of Job's three friends, urges Job to submit to God. He knew that only this way one could find peace. Submitting to God means adhering to spiritual precepts and also accepting without bitterness whatever life brings to you. God is not responsible if things didn't work out for us as we expected. But if we submit to the Spirit and are thankful for everything, while, at the same time, searching our heart to see if, to some extent, we are responsible that things have gone wrong, then we will find peace even amidst the most adverse and painful circumstances. "I will lie down and sleep in peace; for you, alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psa. 4: 8) Only God can give us the assurance that we dwell in safety, provided that we put our trust in him. Then we will have peace even in our sleep! If one has the right relationship with God, the same fears no evil. He feels safe in the Lord's presence even though he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. "You shall keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isa. 26: 3) The great prophet Isaiah also confirms that the person who trusts God, whose mind stays on the Almighty, finds perfect peace. If we lean entirely upon God, our spirit will be strong, we shall feel totally secure and find peace in our heart and mind. "Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble." (Psa. 119: 165) David knows from personal experience that those who love and adhere to the law of God enjoy great peace. They have a sense of security and nothing can be a snare or a stumbling block to them. "Seek peace and pursue it." (Psa. 34: 14b) Peace is something that does not come to us easily. It is a "commodity" we must diligently work for. Inner peace, as well as peace with our neighbors, is to be vigorously sought for and wisely pursued, as we adhere to God's principles. "Her (wisdom's) ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace." (Prov. 3: 17) Solomon is talking about the wisdom that comes from God, the "wisdom from above" (Jam. 3: 17). Such wisdom brings peace! Wisdom's ways are pleasing, leading people to true happiness and inner tranquility. Isn't this what man craves for in life? Indeed wisdom's paths are peace. The person who is wise avoids entering into strife either with his/her higher self (conscience) or with others. The same knows the value of peace and always chooses a peaceful path to solve internal or external conflicts. How does one obtain this so precious wisdom that brings peace with it? One way is to ask God for it in prayer (Jam. 1: 5). In addition to this, one must seek knowledge and acquire virtues. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psa. 133: 1) The psalmist is speaking about unity that results in feeling great pleasure with each other's company and well-being. Lack of quarreling, strife or enmity does not necessarily mean unity. Sometimes people could live in "peace" only because they are indifferent or live at a distance from each other. The good and pleasant unity David praises here is the unity that makes people yearn to be together. They feel and behave as true brothers and sisters. They worship God together, show affection to each other and find delight in promoting each other's interests. This is the unity that pleases God, for it is a blessing not just to the "brethren who dwell together in unity" but to the whole society and even to the entire world. So great is the positive energy that emanates from such unity! How good and how pleasant and beneficial for the society would be if Christians dwelt together in unity! But now, fragmented as they are, they nullify the central message of Christ that is LOVE, and instead of being a blessing to the world, they have often become a cursing, as history proves... "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Prov. 16:7) There are times in the life of the spiritual pilgrim when he/she has not been able to reconcile with his/her enemy, although one has done everything possible in order to be at peace with that person. The other party is unwilling. In such cases one should commit the matter to God in prayer and wait patiently. If the Lord is pleased with one's ways, sooner or later the rock of hatred in the enemy's heart will be broken and peace will prevail. "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be quarreling." (Prov. 20: 3) Ceasing from strife, and better not engaging in quarrels at all, is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. It saves up precious energy; it eliminates problems and promotes peace. To let fall one's weapons, to drop a controversy, to turn the other cheek, for the sake of peace, is also a sign of strength and it honors man. Only fools jump into quarrelling without hesitation, thus creating distress and heartache not only to others but also to themselves. "Better is a handful with tranquility than two handfuls with travail and vexation of spirit." (Ecc. 4: 6) A poor man who has tranquility in his heart is happier than a rich man with a worn out and vexed spirit. This does not mean that one should be a sluggard in order to have serenity. Solomon rather advises against excessive effort to obtain wealth, as this unavoidably will create physical strain and mental stress and will steal one's peace. Envy, greed and extreme ambition is usually what makes someone a workaholic. However, one should recognize and respect his/her limitations, as well as one's need for physical and mental rest. A person should not be exhausted by overwork, if he/she wants to have peace. "Therefore love truth and peace." (Zech. 8: 19b) Zechariah ties together truth and peace. If we want to have inner peace, we must be honest with ourselves and hearken to the still small voice of our conscience. And if we want to have peace with others, we must be honest with them. Falsehood can never be a sound foundation for peace. Dishonesty creates separation and strife, but truth promotes peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matt. 5: 9) What greater honor could one seek in life than to be called, 'son of God'? And this noble spiritual title belongs to all genuine peacemakers. Such is the importance of peace among men, that God deserves a special blessing for the peacemakers! However, to be an effective peacemaker, one must genuinely love and delight in peace. This comes naturally to one who has first made a true and lasting peace with God within. Such a person endeavors to live daily according to the Creator's sovereign laws. So, before one gets ambitious to become a peacemaker, he/she should make peace with the Almighty. Many humanist-atheists, who often show a zeal for peace while raising their fists against their Creator, do not have the potential of going very far. Neither those religious leaders who talk much about peace, while their real motives are selfish, can establish true peace in society and the world as a whole, never mind if they invoke God to bless their endeavors. All these are fake peacemakers and their efforts are ineffective. "Be at peace with one another." (Mark 9: 50b) Jesus exhorted his disciples to be at peace with each other. Unfortunately, two thousand years later, the Christians have not yet hearkened to his exhortation. It is time that Christians should examine where the root of their disunity lies. In my opinion, the problem is primarily due to some Christian doctrines. Christianity, right from the beginning, instead of being a nursery of LOVE, became an organized religion of vain doctrines that inflate man's ego and lead to idolatry, strife, and even wars and atrocities. "Those who have ears let them hear"... "And suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men'." (Luke 2: 13-14) Peace among men is life! That's why it is the wish and prayer of angels and the heavenly hosts. War and strife is death, the father and mother of all evil, and it should be avoided at any other cost. Peace and good will among men is the foundation of individual and collective welfare. But peace on earth will not descend on us from heaven. People must work for it diligently. If mankind chooses war instead of peace, all the prayers of the heavenly hosts are not able to avert it. Humans are responsible for the conditions they create on earth. Whatever they strive for, this will they surely get. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all men." (Rom. 12: 18) Paul recognizes that sometimes it is difficult to be at peace with certain people. We cannot be at peace with someone who wants war with us. It takes two to make peace. That's why Paul adds 'if it is possible', 'as far as it depends on you'. If we have done everything in our power but peace has not been established, then we will have inner tranquility, knowing that we have earnestly tried. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." (Rom. 14: 19) Once again, Paul exhorts the Romans to make every effort that leads to peace. Hardly could he suspect that some of his basic doctrines would cause endless strife and divisions among Christians in the centuries to come... "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." (1 Cor.14: 33a) Of course, God is not the author of chaos. Nor could he have been the inspirer of every word of the Bible, when out of it has come so much confusion and strife among the believers. Surely God is the author of order and peace. "Finally, brothers, farewell. Aim for perfection, be cheerful, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Cor. 13: 11) Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be perfect, cheerful and live in peace. He also urges them to be of one mind. However we should try to live in peace with others even when we think differently, which is usually the case. This way God, who is God of love and peace, will be with us. And when God is with us, who can be against us? "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4: 3) Paul's exhortation to Ephesians was also to do their best in order to keep the unity of the Spirit. Of course, if the believers are one with the Spirit of God, naturally they will be one with each other. There is no short way to go about it. Only spiritual unity will bind all believers together in peace. Yet, what we see among Christians today is quite the opposite: Arrogance, strife, rivalry, dissension and even hatred are the 'fruits' of Christians' separation from the Spirit of God. "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the peacemakers." (Jam. 3: 18) Those who practice peace sow the fruit of righteousness in peaceful ways. One shouldn't try to preach righteousness in ways that stir up envy, strife and enmity. The peacemakers, who are called sons of God, have the sensitivity and the discernment to sow His word peacefully. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14: 27) Jesus was about to depart from this world and he wanted to comfort his disciples who would be left alone. So he blessed them by leaving his peace unto them. If they received it, they wouldn't be afraid, and their hearts would not be troubled. Unfortunately, the disciples did not receive this peace immediately. During the most difficult hours of Jesus on the cross, they were frightened, scattered around in hiding, and Peter even denied his Master. What shall we say then? Were Jesus' blessings given in vain? Not-at-all. But in addition to Jesus' blessings, the disciples ought to work for inner peace themselves. They should get closer to God and draw power from his Spirit through their own prayers. Blessings from a heart full of love are precious; they activate "angels", and should be given freely to all by all. But they are more effective and permanent when they are coupled with one's own diligent efforts. Those who earnestly seek God and submit to him shall be filled with inner peace, courage and boldness.