“Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And [instead of the tyranny of the present] I will appoint peace as your officers, And righteousness your rulers. Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise [to God].”ISAIAH 60:17-18 AMP
The question should be can there be peace on earth NOW in this life? Does it matter because people are so full of animosity, rage, conflict, bitterness, anger so it’s quite futile. Should we hope or begin to try live it? Is it even remotely possible? Is it in the grand design? We know before the Fall; there was peace, everything was quite right, pure, undefiled, innocent, peace with man and God, intimacy and extasy. But now you don’t have to look far to know that that peaceful day and age is a faint and very distant storybook memory. We are just too far gone. Perhaps? We sigh and lament with the Psalmist, “Too long my soul has had its dwelling With those who hate peace,” PSALM 120:6 AMP. So we surmise it cannot be done, peace in this world. But is it possible no matter if we don’t see it, like faith? It is the evidence of things unseen, but hoped for. “Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes peace and order in His high places, “JOB 25:2 AMP. He does it in high places first, then on earth as it is in Heaven maybe. Do we stop short in our hopelessness to write off what our God wants, ultimately desires and came to bring us through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus? Maybe we all want peace cause it’s etched forever the longing in our DNA! Do we leave the dream of peace to the New World Order, Miss Universe pageants, New Age coventions, Ghandis gurus, or the UN peace accords? Why aren’t we redeeming it and taking the lead cause we have VIP relationship tothe Prince of Peace? He can do above what we ask or imagine. So why are we sitting and judging the world? Do we dare believe this? We have the ressurection power of Christ who came to set the world on a right path so why do we throw our hands up in futility! Restoring all life through bringing His peace wasn’t the world’s idea but God’s! Let’s have a wake up call! We serve the Prince of Peace. We let it get warped, shallow. Maybe we dropped the ball. We just live in fatalism, there will be war and rumors of war so let’s just let them die?! No, Jesus came to give life and life to the fullest and He desires no man to perish. This is thinking without God in mind.
Peace we see is surface-cheap we say and pain just pushed under the carpet of broken histories of the nations. True. What will we do about it? The treaties are held onto with a thread. What role do we play as Gods ambassadors or diplomats? Do we feel it’s time to pursue it, dream it? Or is the world too darn messed up? How? Let’s ask the one who dreamed it up!
How can their be peace if there is no justice many are asking now? There can’t. We need to see the pain and plight of the marginalized and fight for them in a productive way, not judge them for justified anger but be part of the solution. Where have we allowed unjust systems to cause violence or oppression to the marginalized? Where have we been silent or complicit. Promoting peace is fighting for justice passionately and peacefully and being a voice for those who have none. Jesus fought for the downtrodden, the poor, hang out with the prostitutes turned worshipper, Samaritan lady with a questionable past from a hated racial group to the Jews, hung out with once corrupted tax collectors. He specifically called those left behind to Himself, those forgotten and from different backgrounds. He took the rough like Peter and called them to ministry. Where are we not seeing people? How can we be peacemakers and befriend those different then us, a different race, culture, political view, religion and share the tender unconditional love of Jesus? Jesus was biased that he called the poor to Himself. Do we have a heart to reach the poor? Do we have a heart to also befriend those people groups like refugees, single parent household families, different cultural or racial groups that often don’t have as much opportunity or privilege as us and walk with them, learn from them, see their beautiful faith that brings them far in life, champion the prisoner who just got out wanting to change his life? Jesus Kingdom also tells in this life is not fair and we need to leave justice also up to God who will make all things right in the end but until then fight in a healthy way for His kingdom on earth.
We sigh, and shake our heads. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and too many peace treaties we broke, too many times we cried racism, injustice, oppression, darkness overtaking, too many wars fought, too many genocides, gang wars, bitter divorces so why try? The next life we say, it may happen, another time or reality. Treaty after treaty was broken in peace process in Middle East. There is too much pain, injustice in these things. Who will make it right? But at least the governments still try. What are we doing? Do we even pray anymore for Syria or North Korea, or Palestinian Israeli conflict? Congo rebel war continue still and has for decades. Afghanistan and Somalia explode weekly. Terrorism crosses Europe each month.
We sigh with another massacre of gun violence that takes out American high schools, concerts, and clubs quarterly. We shake our heads at George Floyds death saying that is wrong, but pretend there is no problem that makes disproprtionate wrongful death by authorities. But most police are good we say. True but did we look at the systems, the pain, behind them. Now is time. Its not a right or left problem but a system from history set up to oppress minority groups, who was set up inthetime of slavery where the constitution once stated African Americans were 3/5 human. We cant let dehumanization of African Americans, Native Americans, refugees, Hispanic, Asian, those of different culture or race than some of us. What can we do about it? What is the is the use to negotiate, peacemake, write our Senators, pray, peaceful march in the goal? The liberal too over all those marches anyway we say and I stand for the Right Conservative. Even so, can you not see Jesus marching the midst with His own sign, “God created all men equal so lets treat each man that way. I am for the downtrodden, oppressed, poor, broken, those who suffered violence. I am that voice and will bring healing and justice. I am the answer! ”
Get rid of all guns in the world? I’d love that one! Crime would go down. And police officers with bad intent couldn’t kill so quicly in a split decision. ( When you live through a war one starts to despise guns or live by it and I lived through one in the Middle East two years.) But a heart of violence is the point, not only the weapons used. Nuclear race gossip surges out of North Korea and Iran. Syria has ISIS and chemical warfare thrust upon it from hands of Assad. Enemies on all sides and no one knows who the good guys are!
But, what is the shalom in the heart of God, whole, lasting, healing, alive peace? Now we are talking, but that’s impossible? Where is it found? Whereas we sometimes limit the idea of peace to the absence of conflict, shalom includes far more. It comprises notions of wholeness, completeness, soundness, and prosperity. The Psalmist sings, “Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in abundant peace” (Ps 37:11, literal translation). God’s promise of blessing to Israel through Isaiah uses similar language: “I will make your towers of sparkling rubies and your gates and walls of shining gems. I will teach all your citizens, and their peace will be great” (Isa 54:12-13, literal translation).This is not a cheap peace but peace at the cost of the Son’s punishement: true redemption, forgiveness, salvation of whole nations. What does God’s original design and restoration look like today? Why do we long for freedom from the violence anyway? Should we use what happens in our world as the standard or the Word of God? Lots of questions need to be asked, wrestled with, asking for keys desperate for His kingdom to come and His will on Earth that is in Heaven. God created the world as a place of peace: justice, harmony, fellowship. Through the end of Genesis 2, peace prevailed in God’s good creation. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/seeking-the-peace-of-christ-christianity-and-peacemaking/ #zkuTflajsyfmYEVS.99
But why is Peace illusive? Yes sin entered the world, and violence had upper hand ever since the start of it. But is that the end of the story? Do we stop looking, believing? Why does the world speak more of world peace then believers? Why did we take Our hands off what God desires and fed it to the birds? Why do we piously not care and say well when you here if rumors of wars we should get excited cause Jesus is coming soon. Yes He is but what are we doing about the lost? People are dying without Jesus in these wars and do we care at all? We say we do? Do we pray like it, share like it or go to these places to let them know? How will they know if we don’t tell them? What does God imagine?
My friend told me the gang wars have gone into months now in Manenberg, a township near Cape Town an hour from my house. She wrote on her Facebook wall yesterday which brought me to tears, and highlighted the injustice and disparity at times at the dire situations of the townships in South Africa. Gangs bring a form of acceptance to youth who know broken families, drugs, and unemployment. What will change this?
It feels like I’m living in the valley of the shadow of dead and not just walking through. Daily people are dying by someone’s else’s hand now its a child that was taken and killed not far from her house. Perpetrator could be anyone and probably is someone close to the family or family or someone you would never have imagined. Lord intervene like you did in the olden days cause the whole of manenberg is effected. So many deaths in one place it is sickening. Lord please draw a line in the sand and put an end to these senseless killings and deal with those who are commiting these acts with eager feet’s. Lord you are a gracious God but yoi are also the Lion of Judah.” It’s a plea of a mother, of a community, to end the senseless violence. Does God hear and join that cry?
But my friend also spoke of this place in its pure redemptive way in her confession to me when she moved back there. She said there no other neighborhood she would like to live. When there is no gang violence and they are in truce; she lives the vibe. The children play joyfully in the streets, the happy music jamming, the old ladies gathered down the road laughing at their grandchildren and neighborhood gossip. The old men play cards. The friends gathered together joking laughing full and great community unlike the stoic white neighborhoods. The character of Manenberg comes alive. Now isn’t that what God intended?
“you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” Isaiah 58:12
I lived through real war and it’s total survival mode. Hard to think about much else. It’s even difficult to focus on a loving God accept desperate prayers and asking futile questions like why friends are dying or trying to escape machine gun fire, reliving the trauma of the situation. You cry out to God but it’s hard to get on with thriving in His promises. And not to mention the anger at loss of those you love. It’s hard going. There is a cry of desperation that may go out to Him in war, but some get more hardened. God wants to bring His peace (freedom of death and destruction) to allow people to breathe, to see a healing loving God. ThecPrince of Peace is drawing people to Him through even war in Syria, but it is NOT His heart and will! He uses it but wants us to bring His kingdom to earth by establishing His peace. He cries for the brokenness of war.
How do we with the Father help bring Heaven to earth? What does it mean? Don’t we need to stop guessing and we get to know His heart in this matter. “Who will devote Himself to be close to Me?” He asks us. Let’s come closer and hear His heartbeat. Don’t we need to see how He sees, cry the tear He cries to come to a place of healing? What does Heaven look like? Some say Heaven is always worship and praise to the King of Kings. And it is. Others focus that there is no more pain and suffering. And there is none. Some boast of the intimacy, love, fellowship, we have with the Father and Nations. And it’s truth. Others dream of unity in diversity of all nations getting along and looking to Jesus. It will be a great reunion of saints some utter, full of beauty, creativity, never boredom, love, joy, dancing, singing, sports for some who glorify God that way perhaps, fun, celebration and parties, wedding feast, perfect love. Some emphasize the Laughter there. Others long for the things places color, crystal seas, golden archways, beauty and Adventure. Sapphire skies. What is God’s heart for His people and the earth? Simply it says in His Word, for us to seek the Kingdom and bring it to earth, intercession, worship, unity to live it out right here and now among the nations in unity with each other. So what do you think is heavenly vision for the nations? It reiterates over and over in Gods Word that Gods hates violence and bloodshed, murder, strife and division that keeps us apart. Does God desire anyone to die separated from him. So let’s encourage peacemakers! Let us ask God how we can be a voice for those without a voice and stand for justice, befriend those different from us, hear their stories of pain, have compassion, learn from those we once didn’t understand or had prejudice. God requires it and it builds the kingdom. Every tribe and tongue will stand before Hod. Are we befriending more of the tribes and tongues because we will spend eternity together worshipping our king. Together with Arabs, Jews, black, white, Asian, Afghani, Palestinian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Japanese, North Korean, and Saudis worshipping God in Jesus!
When it was ordered in Old Testament the world was too far gone and even though His gave a million chances to return and repent; He gave them over to their own choices and let the violence chosen engulf the people RARELY. And the people call their own violence upon themselves and with their choices over and over. Like in the flood, Genesis 6:11-13 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness. It’s not Gods heart in trial with allowing war but our hearts on trial as we shed innocent blood on their defiled altars.(Isaiah 59:1-8) Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness. Yet God of the universe desires healing of the land.
Yet what is the redemption beyond the hostility? In Christ’s ressurection power we can be vessels of His healing love for the nations. Our mandate is reconciliation as we bring it to earth not to bask in futility of the task and sigh and say this side of the Heavenly curtain it can’t be done. But Christ pull away the curtain the wall of separation for just this reason! It can be done; reconciliation was finished at the cross and His ressurection we can implement on earth, steward it. We may say what’s the use God said in last days there will be war and rumors of war. It’s true. But it is not the purpose of His beautiful lovely heart to allow the world to be in a state of perpetual violence? We know that but our religious cinasysm binds us. Jesus broke down the wall of hostility. It’s not a nativity but what we should want and long for and dream of and implement as well, in (Ephesians 2:12-18), 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. The Lord says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This picture is painted in the cemetery of Christ church Jerusalem, a testimony of Fl Gods heart for reconciliation in a conflicted city.
God cries out for the day His earth will be fully restored. And we can play a crucial part.”~‘Behold, [in the restored Jerusalem] I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth. ~‘I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. ~‘I will cleanse them from all their wickedness (guilt) by which they havesinned against Me, and I will pardon (forgive) all their sins by which they rebelled against Me. ~‘Jerusalem will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace (prosperity, security, stability) that I provide for it.’ “Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place of which you say, “It is a [desolate] waste, without man and without animal”–even in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal– the [sound of the] voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the [song-filled] voice of those who say, “Give praise and thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good; For His [steadfast] lovingkindness (mercy) endures forever”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD. Surely this prophesy speaks of a perfect tomorrow for Jerusalem. But could it be in the present making and restoration? Isaiah 62:7 implies yes, Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. That’s the earth not some other dimension. So both becoming and not yet. We through a glass see Him dimly but one day will see Him. We need to practice and imagine hope against hope and not give up or in cause our God does not!~‘In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South (the Negev), in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the LORD.”JEREMIAH 33:6-11, 13 AMP
God desires no man encounter violence in him or against him. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. Proverbs 3:31. God hates violence. He labels it corruption of mankind. Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.
In a blog on the Word and peacemaking, we are urged, “Bible-believing Christians can almost forget that Jesus was the one who blessed the peacemakers, and therefore we had better figure out what this means so we can join them. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/seeking-the-peace-of-christ-christianity-and-peacemaking)
So how did Jesus live out peacemaking? He told us to love our enemies and while we were still His enemies He died for us. “Yet God had a plan to restore his shalom on earth, a plan focused on the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, the one who fulfilled the role of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah. “(www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/seeking-the-peace-of-christ-christianity-and-peacemaking/#zkuTflajsyfmYEVS.99)
“In the Old Testament, peace is also inseparable from righteousness and justice. These latter concepts are embodied in one Hebrew word that connotes right-relationship between two or more parties. This word is usually translated as “righteousness,” referring not only to doing morally correct deeds, but also to living rightly in relationship with others. Righteousness is also closely connected to justice, because the righteous person acts with justice in the civil or judicial sphere. The necessary link between righteousness and peace can be seen, for example, in Isaiah’s vision of a future day when a righteous king will reign over Israel and God’s Spirit will be poured out upon the people: Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will become a lush and fertile forest. Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Quietness and confidence will fill the land forever (Isa 32:15-17, ://www.patheos. com/blogs/markdroberts/series/seeking-the-peace-of-christ-christianity-and-peace- making/ #zkuTflajsyfmYEVS.99) Gods peace brings justice and righteousness. It’s complete, not partial like temporary peace of the world.
In biblical perspective, therefore, the absence of conflict is only the bare beginning of peace. True peace includes personal wholeness, corporate righteousness, political justice, and prosperity for all creation. That’s exactly the way God intended things to be when he created his garden, his paradise. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/seeking-the-peace-of-christ-christianity-and- peacemaking/# zkuTflajsyfmYEVS.99)
How do we bring peace? Actually Jesus brings the peace and He does in and through us. “He makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.” (PSALM 147:14 AMP) So ask Him; look to Him. Punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. ( Isaiah 53) And how beautiful it is when we walk this mountain and proclaim peace and say our God reigns. He does it, He did it, and we proclaim it. He is the Prince of Peace. What do we do with the mandate to be peacemakers and ministers of reconciliation? Pray for it. Seek peace of the city. “~‘Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.’”JEREMIAH 29:7 AMP Worship God over it to declare His Sovereignty. Check your own heart, racism, predjudices, unforgiveness. Ask God where He wants to use you in your families, communities, nations? Ask God to use you as a reconciler, peacemaker, mediator. “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].“JAMES 3:18 AMP Love well. Forgive first. Ask where you can stand in the gap for offenses of nations in prayers and word and deed. And seek Him more. He will do it. It’s on His heart. Believe you can be a history maker with Him in this area, to bring Heaven to earth seeking Him. Meet with government. Blog. Don’t disengage thinking peace is illusive til Heaven cause Jesus asks us to pray His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Find out where conflicts lie. Study it. Pray for solutions. Take a conflict resolution course, study how what when? Read the testimonies about nation healing like what happened in South Africa in 94, or Rwandas forgiveness today, or many others presently tobrcome a nation builder. God desires it and wants to reveal His wisdom and will and use you! Be available. Believe the impossible is possible because God dreams it and wants it no matter how illusive it has looked. Just go get on with the peace work! “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.” MATTHEW 5:9 AMP
God so desires unity to know His deep love more, and He will and can do the impossible! “To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand], and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things. So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ] For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our LordJesus Christ], from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God–the first and ultimate Father]. May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]. Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”EPHESIANS 3:8-10, 12, 14-16 AMP
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