Christian Living

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Where does peace come from? This is the question which one of my students asked me some years back when I used to be a secondary school teacher. I was so touched with this question, but instead of answering directly I brought it before the whole class for debate.

As the debate progressed I could see why the world is not at peace today, I could see why marriages are breaking, children abandoned and many committing suicide. Through the students I could see desperate Heads of States trying to resolve conflicts in regions or countries, Husbands and wives trying all they can to save their marriages from breaking up and young men and women bravely trying to overcome drug addiction but to no avail.

How was it possible to see all these?

Their innocent faces said and argued a lot than their voices could do, what they spoke is what they learn from the world and that had settled completely in their little minds. Violence, anger and unfaithfulness is what they see everywhere they turn, and to them this is what the world ought to be. I remember one of them, a boy of 14 years saying there is no peace without fighting and another arguing fighting cannot bring peace but only money can.

Unfortunate enough this is really true about the world today, money, violence, drugs and some other things which God condemns are modes of bringing peace amongst people. People learn early in their lives to trust these things for peace other than God.

But does this kind of peace work?

There are a lot of things happening in our communities and countries that can give clear answers to this question. For instance; a young wife is having sleepless nights trying to overcome the abuses she suffers in the hands of her husband, in order to have peace she starts drinking a lot and having multiple partners. Will this really bring peace to her? Isn’t this searching for water in a lifeless sandy desert?

Now what is the problem, Is it the people searching for peace or the world?

You may think you know the meaning of peace till you find the real peace. Yes, the world offers peace but that is not the real one because behind it you will find pain, violence and death. In John 14 verse 27, Jesus talked about the peace he was leaving behind for his disciples. In his speech Jesus said; “peace I leave you is not like that the world offers.” The word I always underline in this speech is: “not like that the world offers.”

Jesus knew that the world offers peace and he knew that it will try to offer to his disciples and above all these he knew how counterfeit this kind of peace was. So in order to answer all questions and safeguard his disciples he offered them peace before hand and this was the genuine piece.

What is this genuine peace?

Real peace does not add sorrow or pain, does not hurt or bring humiliation to others. Real peace brings happiness and love. It adds meaning and color to life. Now this is the kind of peace that Jesus left.

When Jesus said I am leaving you this peace, he had several things he aimed to say. The peace he was leaving was for the entire human being no subtractions (total peace). He was looking at the situation where a human being will be at peace with God, himself, fellow human beings and nature.

Here is now where the problem lies.

Up to now people do not know that there cannot be real peace if a man is not at peace with God. It’s unfortunate because a lot of people deny this fact. As I explained before, real peace comes from God and nothing else. Man must firstly humble himself before God and obey his rules to earn peace. The peace that comes from God person to be firstly at peace with him or herself, (which is very vital) then he or she makes peace with fellow human beings then with nature.

I know you might have learned something different from psychotherapists but this is the formula that really works. When you ask God for peace, he takes control of whole being so that it’s not you who act but God in you. He reveals his real image and character which in turn gives you real meaning of life.

Real peace is for free and comes from no one else except God. He himself is the author of it and nobody and nothing can claim to bring piece. Just surrender your life to him today and receive peace you have never experienced before.

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