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Peace
by
Josprel
"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." - John 14:27.
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There has never been an instance when battles were not raging somewhere
on our globe. According to Jesus, there shall be wars and rumors of
wars before His return. Until then, though humanity's universal cry is for
peace, there shall be no peace. The Apostle Paul was negative about the
world achieving peace without Jesus Christ. He wrote, "For when they
shall say, Peace and safety: then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a women with child; and they shall not escape" (1st
Thessalonians 5:3).
Scriptures speak of several categories of peace.
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The peace represent above refers to a cessation of hostilities
between warring nations. It is a fragile peace, dependent on the
inclinations of politicians and rulers. International organizations, such as The
United Nations, were formed in an endeavor to channel these inclinations
toward peace. All are dismal failures, as all future attempts to
achieve peace without Jesus Christ shall be. It is these failures to achieve
a permanent international peace that shall deceive mankind into
accepting the Antichrist.
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A second category of peace is that between individuals. For those
who follow Jesus Christ this is a mandated peace directive. In the
Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 14, the Apostle Paul writes,
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord." This believer’s peace directive is sustained by our having holy
relationships with others, both believers and unbelievers.
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A third category of peace is the peace of God. It is a supernatural
peace imparted by God to those who commune with Him in prayer. This is
God's own profound peace, inexplicable even to those to who experience
it. The Apostle Paul described this peace as a peace beyond human
understanding. "Be careful for nothing [literally: Do not worry about
anything]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passes all understanding, shall keep [literally: protect as a sentinel]
your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:6-7).
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Peace with God is the final category of peace considered in this
short article. It is a peace that defines a person's status with God,
after having ceased all hostilities towards Him by accepting Jesus Christ
as the only mediator between God and men. "Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans
5:1.)
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus." (1st Timothy 2:5).
Vis-à-vis world peace, the human race disregards the actuality; until
mankind is at peace with God, genuine peace shall continue to elude
them. Humanity first must accept the Prince of Peace in order to enjoy the
blessings of world peace.
-30-
© Josprel (Joseph Perrello)
josprel@verizon.net
About the Author:
During his many years of ministry, Josprel has pastored
three churches, including one in Attica, New York, the location of
America's most bloody prison riot. Together with other pastors in the town,
he counseled the families of the prison security officers being held
hostage by the inmates. Shortly after the riot was quelled, the Attica
Prison administration asked Josprel to conducted weekly three-hour Bible
studies for the inmates. These studies lasted for some four years, when
Josprel turned them over to another pastor, due to heavy demands on his
time; a five-time weekly radio program, a large congregation, new
members classes, church administration duties, a building program during
which the congregation constructed a large new sanctuary and an
educational wing. To read of Josprel's experiences at the Attica Correctional
Institution, see the article
"Maximum Security - Attica," published by
Christian Article Bank.
Josprel ministers with the evangelical church denomination of his
youth. He is a prolific writer, whose stories and articles have appeared in
print and the web.
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