Rich Promises Of Peace
When I was little we didn't go to church much. Then when I
was 10 my dad took me along to Sea Scouts which were part of our local Anglican
church. Scouts was great and I learned about nationhood and loyalty, and to
sail and row, build boats and fabricate their rigging, and to camp and cook and
trek in the mountains.
Then, until I finished High School, I had to go twice a
month to "church parades" where we would carry the flags and help old
people to their seats and sing really loud when the songs had some zing; I
remember "Onward Christian Soldiers" very well.
All the church services included a prayer with the words:
"the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds". These words have stuck with me all these years. I
believe that, even then, Jesus had me marked down as one of His. It would be 30
or 40 years before I knew that these words were from the Bible; they are part
of Philippians 4:7. But I did know that I was unsure of their meaning, and also that to have such an inner peace would be a very
good thing.
Peace is one of the big
subjects in the Bible. Peace is sought by just about everybody in the world but
not many find it. (Although I have seen much peace in rural villages in India , Nepal
and Indonesia
where sharing is commonplace, family values are high and everyone is a person
of faith). Perhaps peace can only be brought by being committed to our family,
and being alive in our spirit. Our Christian
God brings righteousness through His justice, from forgiveness bought by Jesus' sacrifice for our sins on the Cross of Calvary about 2000 years ago.
Think about all the successful and famous people and all the
millionaires and billionaires you know or hear about. Even though we see their
"best" public face, we realise that any peace they have is tiny or transient,
they seem still to have many insecurities, doubts and troubles.
But God's Word offers us rich promises of peace. These
prophetic words were spoken of John the Baptist who would announce Jesus:
"And you, my
child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the
Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of
peace" (Luke 1:76-79).
Towards the end of His earthly ministry Jesus gave us the
fruit of that prophetic promise to John:
"Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not
let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
"I have told you
these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Shalom
The big thing is that when our English language Bibles use
the words "peace" or "fullness" (another of my favourite
Bible words), the original authors mostly wrote "shalom" which is a
much bigger word and is difficult for
us to explain from our analytical Western perspective. Here are some meanings
that "shalom" encompasses:
complete peace, harmony, wholeness, welfare, fulfillment,
tranquility, wellbeing, health, safety, soundness, flourishing, perfection,
fullness, completeness, harmony, rest, the absence of agitation or discord, to
be fully paid for, of high moral value, to be prosperous in everything including health,
relationships and finances.
The “shalom, shalom” of Isaiah 57:19 is speaking of salvation, not simply peace. Shalom is also used as a greeting; where we might say "hello" or "goodbye", people in Bible times would say "shalom", Jewish people still do, to this day.
The “shalom, shalom” of Isaiah 57:19 is speaking of salvation, not simply peace. Shalom is also used as a greeting; where we might say "hello" or "goodbye", people in Bible times would say "shalom", Jewish people still do, to this day.
As I consider all these meanings and reflect on the many
Scripture verses where "peace" and "fullness" appear I am
in awe because I feel so included in them.
As I have grown closer to Jesus over the past eight or ten
years my shalom has also grown. I am getting older, my life is getting smaller
and my horizons are shrinking. I have come to terms with my unfulfilled
ambitions and my absence of financial success by focusing on the good things
in my life. As a young man I had heaps of adventures trekking, sailing,
travelling with just a backpack and a few dollars, and entering into everything
exciting which presented itself. Since I met Trish my whole life has been on a
higher plane. Our six children have added so much more, and now their wives and
our grandchildren too!
Not that we haven't had troubles, we've had lots. But we've
never been defeated, instead, with Jesus on our side, we have been able to
overcome. We build and grow things together, and we count our blessings!
"but we glory in
our troubles, knowing that suffering brings about perseverance; and
perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope" (Romans
5:3-4).
Hope, such a precious thing in our time.
"make every
effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual
affection, love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
"you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).
In our family we have shared the pain of long-term
unemployment and financial hardship, we've experienced betrayal, lived through
serious illnesses, and seen relationship breakdown, but we have always known
love and caring and beauty ..
I am so very blessed that Jesus came to Trish and then to
me. It began soon after we were married. Trish had grave doubts and was
struggling. Then through some friends Jesus made Himself known to her, (He is the God who reveals Himself (Amos
4:13)). Soon I became interested too and within a few years Jesus also
drew me to Himself. We look back over more than 35 years together with joy. All
the tough times are so outweighed by the blessings we've known and still know.
A week or so ago I walked along the shore-line for an hour
or so while the sun set and daylight faded. The beauty around me was almost
overwhelming; the constantly changing light, the way the stingrays didn't mind
that I invaded their space to take their photo, it was as though they could
understand that I meant them no harm. The seagulls also seemed to welcome me
and draw reassurance from my "hello bird" greetings. Other walkers
were happy to share their pleasure in being in such a glorious place.
When I got back to camp I dropped my backpack and shirt on
the sand and swam. So lovely, just a bright golden glow in the western sky, the
ocean currents already warm for summer, clear, clean salty water .. to me,
total luxury. Then, from the shore, "is that you John? Aren't you afraid?
There are sharks out there and you can't see them!"
I responded that no, I was not afraid ..
I've since thought about my friend's words and think that my response to such fears is something like this:
"You and I should really not be afraid of anything in the ocean, but rather to be thinking (and praying) about what is happening on Wall Street and in the boardrooms of the multinational companies (which are now more powerful than nations), and all the jihadists working to smash their own countries and also the Western nations, and the political correctness coming at us from so many directions and attacking our culture, and all those whose aim is to reduce our freedoms of speech and of religion".
"You and I should really not be afraid of anything in the ocean, but rather to be thinking (and praying) about what is happening on Wall Street and in the boardrooms of the multinational companies (which are now more powerful than nations), and all the jihadists working to smash their own countries and also the Western nations, and the political correctness coming at us from so many directions and attacking our culture, and all those whose aim is to reduce our freedoms of speech and of religion".
It's becoming clear that almost everyone in the media and most people in politics are heading (and pushing) in a direction of radical change with which the vast majority of citizens do not ascribe or agree. (Consider Brexit and the Donald Trump victories where the very vocal minorities were amazed and angry at the majority responses). Now even our democratic processes are being ridiculed and decried ..
The popular media only report what they want us to know. There are more human slaves in the world now than at any other time in history, and most people are un-aware.
Our Governments seem not to care about these vast evils. These are the scary things in our time!"
It's scary too that we are all expected to pretend that none
of these things actually exist.
We are often reminded that there is a mental health epidemic
raging in Western countries; certainly the statistics we're given are
frightening. No-one seems to be able to tell us what has caused this outbreak
of un-wellness; but I think I know. It seems to me that vast numbers in our
population are trying to live life from a worldview based on lies. Today we
talk about these lies as "liberal advances" or "political
correctness". In Scripture they are called "strongholds" which are "arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty
thing that sets itself up against the truth of God" (2 Corinthians
10:5). When Jesus came, He came as truth and light. Jesus is truth (John 1:1-4, John 1:17, John 14:6). Jesus is the very
opposite of what we are expected to swallow.
To me it is clear that if you are shaping your dreams and
actions and life-responses around a bunch of un-truths inside your head, then
that part of your person which knows the real
truth is going to be confused and upset and will become anxious, worrying that
the "you", for which your mind and your soul are responsible, is on
the wrong track. Hence anxiety and depression, the most frequent occurrences of
mental illness in our culture.
A few days ago I heard the word "shalom" and
experienced an explosion of understanding. I've been pondering
"peace" and "fullness" for a long time because they are now
such a real part of my experience. Shalom is peace and fullness to the level
which God designed when He created us and the universe all those millennia ago.
Humankind was created to be in relationship with Father God, and Jesus His Son,
and Holy Spirit in perfect peace and complete fullness, to be rich in
relationships, health, and sufficiency. We were designed and created to know
shalom all the time!
My early knowledge of "shalom" was as a greeting
used by Jewish friends of my family. The dads had met while training for the
Air Force for World War II. Their son Nicky and I became very good friends. I
was often at their house and included in their greeting of "shalom".
Now I realise that they were honouring me and our friendship by giving me such
a profound greeting, a greeting which came from the very roots of their understanding
of life, a greeting which includes blessings of fullness, peace and completion,
all the blessings of God.
"The Lord bless
you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you shalom" (Numbers
6:24-26).
Dear reader, I bless you, and pray shalom for you! Amen.
Favourite Bible Verses
"For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace (in Hebrew: 'Sar
shalom')" (Isaiah 9:6).
"Love and faithfulness
meet together; righteousness and shalom (peace) kiss each other" (Psalm 85:10).
"You know the message
God sent to the people of Israel
"It is for freedom that
Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened
again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians
5:1).
"For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our
warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of
strongholds. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the
obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
"No discipline seems
pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and shalom (peace) for
those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).
"Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so
that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is
not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled
around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with
your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In
addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit
on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be
alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people" (Ephesians
6:10-18).
"Now may the God of shalom (peace), who through the blood of the
eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd
of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he
work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Amen.
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Praise Jesus.
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