There are wars in numerous places in the world today. Sometimes there are ceasefire agreements and then one side acts treacherously and hostilities resume. We can define peace as the absence of war or hostilities. But there are several levels of peace. Peace can be between nations or social groups. Peace can also be lack of conflict between ourselves and others such as between us and family members or between us and our neighbors or co-workers; we have all probably at some time or other experienced conflict and lack of peace with people around us. And then there is peace within – peace in our hearts and minds – lack of fear or worry or remorse. As Christians, there is one more peace that we can have that I believe is more important than all the rest, and that is peace with God. We can have all the other types of peace but without true peace with God, none of the others really matter.
You see, since we are sinful beings, there is a naturally enmity between us and God. Our sinfulness made us enemies of God. Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” James 4:4 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
As with any conflict, someone had to initiate the peace process between us and God. God initiated peace by sending his Son Jesus. Colossians 1:19-23 “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Notice the “if” statement in the above passage. As Christians, if we want to maintain peace with God and be presented holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight, we must continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel. If there is anyone I really desire to have peace with, it is with God. Why would I want to be an enemy of the all-powerful creator? Hebrews 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us do our part to maintain the peace.