Which do you really want, peace or
conflict? I am sure most of us would say
we want peace. We want our life to be
smooth, carefree, no worries or struggles.
Just flowing along in peaceful rest and happiness. Or so we think. Many of the things we do are aimed at trying
to achieve that peace that we think we need, a peace that is represented by a
lack of conflict. Whether it is in our
homes, where so often one of the partners tends to try to placate the other to
avoid conflict, or we divorce each other with the same goal in mind.
Perhaps in the way we deal with our
children, where so many parents seek to avoid conflict by letting the child do
as they wish, catering to their varied desires.
Or maybe at work where changes or improvements are never suggested for
fear of reprisal. In these and many
other ways we seek peace by trying to avoid conflict.
Yet, for
us, conflict is normal. While we say we
want peace, much of what we do in our daily life is based on the idea that conflict
is expected, it's the way things are. Children are taught from an early age that
competing (playing) in sports is good. How to be a "good sport",
meaning how to compete and then be a "good loser" or "good
winner". Whether it is in books,
video games, movies, or school work, the lesson is always that conflict is
normal in life.
As adults
we are bombarded with the idea that there is a "war between the
sexes", homes are portrayed as places of conflict between husband and wife
(if both are there at all), children against parents, bosses against employees,
and on and on.
We are
set up from babyhood for conflict, yet we are also told that peace is
desirable. We are urged to be at peace, yet we have no model for it. So we search for something that we don't
understand, haven't seen, with conflicting ideas as to what it is. It's no wonder we are so mixed up.
There is only one source of peace. There is only one model of peace. There is only one way to have peace. Our heavenly Father and God speaks to us through
His Son Jesus Christ: "Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." You can read this promise for yourself in
the Holy Bible in the book of John chapter 14 verse 27. This precious gift of peace Jesus left for us
to have. Notice it is not the false
peace the world offers, but a real peace, even
"the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
Notice that this peace comes from God, and is
beyond our understanding. We cannot
explain everything about it, but we can experience it. However, it only comes through Jesus
Christ. In order to have it we must
focus on Jesus, and keep our focus on Him.
We look to Christ to see this peace modeled for us, but more than that,
we receive it from Him.
"In
the heart of Christ, where reigned perfect harmony with God, there was perfect
peace. He was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or
disappointment. Amid the greatest opposition and the most cruel treatment, He
was still of good courage. Here we
are shown Jesus at peace no matter what situation He was in. We also see that it was because He was in
perfect harmony with God. The rest of
the statement tells us why we don't have the same peace, and how we may obtain
it. "But many who profess to be His followers
have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves
with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink
from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make
this surrender, they cannot find peace." {DA 330}
In this one paragraph we are shown the modeling of this peace in the
life of Jesus, and we are told how to have it ourselves.
Isaiah 26:3
gives us the key to the gift of perfect peace: "You wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose
mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You." We do not understand what it
means to fully trust in God, to rest in His care. Jesus wants us to learn His way, heaven's
way, of living. "If you have . . . given yourself to Christ, you are a member of
the family of God, and everything in the Father's house is for you. All the
treasures of God are open to you, both the world that now is and that which is
to come... Even the enmity of the wicked will prove a blessing, by disciplining
you for heaven."
Have you given yourself to God? Then rest in His care, knowing that nothing will occur in your life
that is not from God and is for your eternal good.
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