MAKING PEACE – PART 1

There are far too many troublemakers in the world and far too few peacemakers? The truth of the matter is; our world knows almost nothing of genuine peace. Our world peacemakers have a rather dismal record, the peace that we hail today begins to collapse tomorrow. It seems like every year that we read about a new peace accord in the world. And every year, we read about new hostilities breaking out in the world. Someone once said that the United Nations is filled with peace monuments; they build one after each war. In our world, peace has merely become that glorious moment of silence, while everybody takes the time to reload. World War I was going to be the great war, the war to end all wars. After World War II, the United Nations was formed to ensure world peace. In fact, the motto inscribed on the outside of the U.N. building says: [To have each succeeding generation free from the scourge of war.] And in all the years that have passed since, there has not been one day of peace on earth. We do not have political peace, we do not have economic peace, we do not have social peace or we do not have domestic peace. Relationships are fragile and mental and emotional illnesses are epidemic. Family break-ups are in record number, there is disorder in schools. We do not even have personal peace. We have difficulty just getting along with ourselves. And yet, despite all that, the idea of peace dominates the Bible. In fact, YHVH Elohiym is referred to over and over as the [YHVH of Peace]. Yeshua is referred to as the [Prince of Peace]. We find in our Beatitude that we are expected to be peacemakers. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of YHVH. -- Matthew 5:9. There are two areas that will help us to fulfil this call to peace-making, in both our individual lives and in your church.

1 – How to Have YHVH’s Peace in Your Own Life:

Martin Luther King Junior said: True peace is not merely the absence of some negative force, tension or war; it is the presence of some positive force, justice, good will and brotherhood. I would take that a step further and say that true peace is expressed in justice, good will and brotherhood, but its source can only be found by being in relationship with YHVH. So how do we do that?

A – Understand YHVH’s Purpose:
YHVH loves you and wants you to experience peace and life; abundant and eternal. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with YHVH through our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach. -- Romans 5:1. For YHVH so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -- John 3:16. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. -- John 10:10. Now here is an important question we need to ask: Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that YHVH planned for us? The answer is found in B:

B – Recognize Our Problem: Separation!
YHVH created us in His Own Image to have an abundant life filled with His peace. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a will and a freedom of choice. Each one of us has chosen to disobey YHVH and go our own wilful way. We still make this choice today and the result is separation from YHVH. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of YHVH -- Romans 3:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of YHVH is eternal life through Yeshua Moshiach our Adonai. -- Romans 6:23.

C – Accept YHVH’s Remedy: The Cross!
Yeshua Moshiach is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between YHVH and people. YHVH has provided the only way and each one of us must make a choice; either to accept YHVH’s peace through His Son, or to reject it. For there is one YHVH, and one mediator between YHVH and men, the man Moshiach Yeshua -- 1 Timothy 2:5. For Moshiach also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to YHVH, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit -- 1 Peter 3:18. The Cross of Moshiach is the bridge that spans the gap between ourselves and YHVH. There is no other way of access to true peace and contentment other than Yeshua. Yeshua saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. -- John 14:6)

D —Activate Our Response: Receive Moshiach:
We must trust Yeshua Moshiach and receive Him by personal invitation. Nobody can do this for you; it has to be your own personal decision. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. -- Revelation 3:20. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of YHVH, even to them that believe on His Name -- John 1:12. …that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Adonai Yeshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that YHVH hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved -- Romans 10:9. To receive Moshiach means that I reject my former way of life, submit myself to Yeshua as the new Master of my life, accept His offer of forgiveness and peace and willingly follow Him.

E – Live Your Life In YHVH’s Peace:
A friend visited an elderly woman badly crippled by arthritis. When asked: Do you suffer much? she responded: Yes, but there is no nail here, and she pointed to her hand. He had the nails; I have the peace. She pointed to her head. There are no thorns here. He had the thorns; I have the peace. She touched her side. There is no spear here. He had the spear; I have the peace. That is what the cross of Yeshua Moshiach means for us. He gave of Himself so that we might have the peace. This is not a peace that constitutes absence of war or external conflict. It is a peace that knows the calm assurance of the presence of YHVH no matter what situation we find ourselves in and no matter what storm tomorrow may bring. This is not a one time, shot in the arm, type of peace. It is the peace that we experience continuously and that is felt more deeply the closer we draw to Moshiach. And the Peace of YHVH, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Moshiach Yeshua. -- Philippians 4:7. The promise is that when we present our requests to YHVH. …the peace of YHVH, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Moshiach Yeshua. So, we understand what it means to have the Peace of YHVH. But Yeshua has called us to go beyond receiving YHVH’s Peace ourselves and has Promised His blessing to those who make peace with others.