THE PROMISE OF PEACE
Dexter
T. Manglicmot
“Despair is coming. You will look for peace and never find
it.” (Ezek. 7:25, Today’s English Version)
The sentiments of many people nowadays
are captured by this biblical statement as many search for the ever-elusive
peace but often end up disappointed.
The ironic truth is that many times when
people search for peace, violence erupts.
Peaceful demonstrations have been
known to turn violent; peace talks between nations at times aggravate rather
than improve the situation; and ceasefire agreements are usually broken instead
of observed. No matter how good people’s intentions may be, the reality is that
their plans to achieve peace and security often end in bloodshed and
frustration. As a result, many are outraged and discouraged.
The recent world events that have
crippled not only underdeveloped nations but also the so-called superpowers of
the world have all the more worsened the insecurity felt by many. Armed
conflicts and terrorist acts have sent many seeking shelter and have left many
with a sense of hopelessness. It is safe to say then that in this world, there
is an absence of peace.
But the lack of peace today should not
come as a surprise, for the Bible long ago foretold it. Prophet Ezekiel vividly
described the condition of the world:
“One disaster will follow another, and a steady stream of
bad news will pour in.
“Everything is in confusion—the land is full of murders
and the cities are full of violence.
“There is fighting in the streets, and sickness and hunger
in the houses. Anyone who is out in the country will die in the fighting, and
anyone in the city will be a victim of sickness and hunger.” (Ezek.
7:26, 23, 15, Ibid.)
The curse that God pronounced on the
world is being manifested in our time.
News of armed conflicts and senseless
violence are regular items on news programs and papers. Furthermore, the
weakening of the economy is being experienced throughout the world and has
seriously affected many people.
According to the International Labour
Organization annual report released in January 2001, nearly one third of the world’s
workforce was unemployed or underemployed at the end of the year 2000.
Unemployment is one factor that contributes to the growing number of people
living in poverty. The organization also report that in the course of the last
five years, the world’s poor have increased by 200 million.
Furthermore, more than 800 million
people, almost one in seven of the world’s population, still suffer from hunger
or diseases associated with undernourishment, the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization said in its annual report released in the year 2000. It
also reported that wars, armed conflicts, and civil strife are major factors of
food insecurity, and emphasized that food supply disruptions associated with
political instability and conflicts have led to the persistence of serious food
shortages in many countries throughout the world.
All these things are happening because
God is angry with the world due to the wickedness that people commit:
“The king will mourn, the prince will give up hope, and
the people will shake with fear. I will punish you for all you have done, and
will judge you in the same way as you have judged others. This will show you
that I am the Lord.
“The Lord spoke
to me. “Mortal man’, he said, ‘this is what I, the Sovereign Lord, I am saying to the land of Israel:
This is the end for the whole land! Israel, the end has come. You will feel my
anger, because I am judging you for what you have done. I will pay you back for
all your disgusting conduct’.” (Ezek. 7:27, 1-3, Ibid.)
Even if God’s anger is being inflicted
on the world, He is not the one to blame. If we examine the attitudes and
behavior of people today, it is evident that man is at fault. Because man’s
sin, he has been separated from God. (Is. 59:2), and has been condemned to punishment
on the day when the Lord will judge the ungodly (II Pt. 3:7, 10). If people
nowadays try to achieve peace and prevent disaster through power, wealth,
intelligence, and influence, on the day of the Lord’s wrath, neither man’s
might nor wealth will be able to deliver him from destruction:
“The great day of the Lord
is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; there the mighty men
shall cry out.
“That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and
distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and
gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
“A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities
and against the high towers.
“I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like
blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their
flesh like refuse.
“Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to
deliver them in the day of the Lord’s
wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He
will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.”
(Zeph. 1:14-18, New
King James Version)
The violence and disasters happening
now are incomparable with the destruction that God has in store for the wicked
on the day of His wrath. On that day, everything will be destroyed, and man’s
power and wealth will be rendered useless.
Is
there still hope for peace?
Nobody wants to be punished in this
life, much more to be condemned on the Day of Judgment. But, is there still a
chance for people to escape from God’s curse and from the disasters the earth
will inevitably experience? Is there still hope for peace?
The Bible gives us hope in these times
of hopelessness:
“The Lord
will give strength to His people; the Lord
will bless His people with peace.” (Ps. 29:11, Ibid.)
God promises to give peace to His
people, such as freedom of war:
“He will settle disputes among great nations. They will
hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations
will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.” (Is.
2:4, Today’s
English Version)
He also promises to give freedom from
worries because justice, peace, and security will reign in the land:
“Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be
done. Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security
forever.
“God people will be free from worries, and
their homes peaceful and safe.” (Is. 32:16-19, Ibid.)
The peace promised by God will be
manifested in the new heavens and new earth---in the Holy City---where
righteousness dwells (II Pt. 3:13, New King James Version), and where there will
be no more tears, death, sorrow, or pain (Rev. 21:4).
Heirs
of the promise of peace
But the harsh truth is that not all people
will be able to attain this peace. As stated earlier, there are those who are
condemned to suffer God’s punishment in this life and in the life to come.
Furthermore, the earth is destined to be burned because of the ungodly. So, who
will attain the promised peace? Apostle Peter gives the answer:
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved,
looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without
spot and blameless.” (II Pt. 3:13-14, New King James Version)
Those who will dwell in the
promised land are those who are at peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1, Ibid.)
Those who are called in the service of
the Lord and are in the body of Christ are the ones who have peace with God:
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which
also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Col. 3:15, Ibid.)
The body is the Church headed by Christ
(Col. 1:18). And, the chosen people have attained peace by being reconciled to
God through the blood of Lord Jesus Christ:
“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.” (Col. 1:20-22, New King James Version)
Hence it is important to be counted
among those redeemed by the blood of Christ because these people have been
reconciled to God, have attained peace with Him, and have acquired the right to
receive His promises. The Bible teaches that the Church was redeemed by the
blood of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock
over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of
Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:20, Lamsa
Translation)
Since the church of Christ was redeemed
or purchased with the blood of Christ, it is the Church that has been
reconciled to God and has attained peace with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus, members of the Church are the beneficiaries of that peace God promised to
His chosen people.
Although the chosen people of God cannot
escape witnessing the violence and destruction happening in the world, God
promises them triumph and guidance as they wait for the day when they will
receive genuine peace in the promised land:
“Obey the Lord your God and all these blessing will be
yours: The Lord will bless your towns and your fields. The Lord will bless you
with many children, with abundant crops, and with many cattle and sheep. The
Lord will bless your grain crops, and the food you prepare from them. The Lord
will bless everything you do.” (Dt. 28:2-6, Today’s English Version)
Amidst the unstable condition of the
world, the chosen people of God will always be with them. On the Day of
Judgment, he will also give them peace that no one in this world can
provide---rest from all their labors and worries, peace from the destruction
that beset the people of the world today, and salvation from condemnation
intended for the ungodly. This is the kind of peace that God will give His
chosen people. This is the peace that all must seek. (: