True Peace

You may not have noticed, but just about everywhere you look, there are reminders that people long for peace.  Various peace symbols are found on T-shirts, graffiti, etc.  The various peace symbols have become iconic of our pop culture.  I have even found it difficult to find clothing for my daughters that are not plastered with its symbols.  Talk and symbols of peace are central to our society and are rapidly becoming part of the indoctrination of our schools, as well as, our politics.  But my primary concern is that I do not believe that most in our society really knows what peace is, nor from where it originates.

I have been reading in the prophecy of Isaiah lately, and in chapter 11, there is a noticeable shift in tone.  Up to then, much of the prophecy is pronouncement of judgment on the nation of Judah for their idolatry and immortality. But in chapter 11, he introduces what will become a major theme in this book.  It is the arrival of the shoot (or branch) from Jesse’s stump (cf. vs. 1), the Messiah.  Aka, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (cf. 9:6)

True peace, as scripture describes it, happens as the result of the removal of sin in the world (not the denial thereof) which will be fully realized when Christ returns.  Look at the evidence Isaiah describes that true peace has arrived,

“⁶The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. ⁷The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.  ⁹They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

These are natural enemies that came when man rebelled against God in the Garden.  This peace occurs only when all that was broken at the fall is made right again.  It does not come with indoctrination against violence because no matter how hard you try you cannot regulate the human heart.  You cannot disarm enough.  It is only when Christ makes all thing new and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” that we will be able to see true peace on earth.

Aches and Pains

I am getting older.  This is somewhat a “duh” statement as the truth is, we all are.  I recently had my 43^rd birthday.  By God’s grace, I have outlived my father, by grace I will live longer.  They say, with age comes maturity and wisdom, and, if we are attuning to God’s direction, this too is largely true.  But the other thing that comes with age is aches and pains.  The time in which it arrives is determined largely by how well we have taken care of these earthly vessels, but ultimately, all of our bodies will fail and begin to decay and with that come aches and pain.  Now there is an entire theology of suffering and God’s use of it in our individual lives.  However, as I was reading this morning, I was reminded of the spiritual lesson that God gives ALL of us who have sickness, pain or suffering—HOPE.  Look at what I mean,“¹ For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home [our earthly bodies] is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Cor. 5:1-4, ESV)

Paul tells us that our aches and pains are reminders that we have a heavenly building awaiting us.  Our heavenly duds that we get to exchange when we take off our earthly clothes.  Every time I hurt, every time I get frustrated with the way our world is decaying, I am reminded of this one truth.  I have an new set of clothes awaiting me on the other side.  How do I know of sure?  Paul tells us in his next verse. “⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” God gives His Spirit. (ESV)

So, how do we respond when we hurt, get sick or suffer?  He goes to say, “⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (ESV)

So be encouraged.  Like the old Gospel song tells us, “This is not my home, I’m just a-passing through!”