Missing Peace
The Missing Peace
John {14:27}
Peace I leave with you
my peace I give unto you
not as the world giveth,
give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled
neither let it be afraid.
There's a restlessness inside every human being, inherited at birth. Maybe the restlessness in you takes the form of a tiny feeling that something isn't quite right. Something in life just isn't how it should be. There has to be something more. Even if all our needs are taken care of we want something more. People call us selfish for wanting more when we have our basic human needs met. Those without those needs fulfilled long to be like we are and believe that if only they had what we had they'd finally be happy- but how can they be happy when they don't have the basic needs? It's not surprising when a poor man suddenly becomes a rich man and he finds out after a short while of celebration that in fact that real happiness is still missing.
Missing peace is what it really is and it can be found in all of us. We can call it something else, call it our lot in life not to be content. We can say that if only we had this differently then peace an happiness would be ours. What we're caught up in is a lie. There are nothing but temporary glimpses of peace. Temporary glimpses of what a happy life should be and even a very poor person can have these glimpses.
Truly, irregardless of circumstances we are touched by peace at various moments in our lives.
Those tiny moments allow us to realize that there is really something more to be had.
Unfortunately, most of us look for the something in temporal ways. We seek more money to take more vacations, or better quality vacations. We seek a new person to bring us that spark. We seek the latest toy on the market. We strive to obtain something, putting all our efforts into that something and when it is ours we have to start over again striving for something else, something newer, better.
A person content with their life we say is a good thing, but that contentment could have been obtained by resignation- giving up on things, settling for what you have because it's too much effort to strive for more. The striving becomes tiresome and so a 'happy' resignation settles in. And yet there is still...
...the missing peace.
You see, I believe that when we were created in God's image, by God Himself, mankind was made with a necessary connection with the Creator. We were made by God, for God and not for any other reason.
You ever see a gorgeous wedding cake? Maybe in a picture, or in a movie, if not in real life? If you attempted to make that same wedding cake it's only when you get started and begin the process do you realize just what sort of effort and skill it takes to create such a thing.
The same principle holds to seeing a sculpture, a painting, a building, or a complex mathematical formula, inside a computer, a television set, a telephone... things are possible and have been made possible through effort, through talent and often we don't realize the extent of such effort and talent until we try to do create for ourselves what has been created for us.
Sometimes people who imitate the art of others can get it exactly the same- they can counterfeit the piece of art but that's rare. Often people will try and come close but fall short of the same glory of the piece.
In some things it's impossible to duplicate them and we call them one of a kind.
We say humans are one of a kind. Even identical twins have their differences.
We are each unique.
God made us to be this way, different from one another, each of us having within us something amazing and wonderful and yet every single one of us are missing peace.
We are.
This peace that Jesus leaves with us, this peace that Jesus gives to us is in fact that missing peace and we can't get it except through Him. It's a peace unlike anything we can manufacture on our own. It's a peace that in truth connects us back to God, a peace we forfieted in the garden when we separated ourselves from God.
Titus {2:14} Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
A peculiar people.
We become a peculiar people when we accept the peace offered to us by Jesus. How could we not be peculiar when we have imperfectly (and yet we have) reached out to accept the hand offered to us, reached out to accept the hope Jesus offers us in Him. The hope of reconnecting with God, of bridging the gap created by sin, or becoming once again as God intended. We've been given the missing peace.
Satan doesn't want any of us having the missing peace. He doesn't want any of us believing we can ever connect with God again. If we do believe it He then wants to make our lives so miserable that we turn away. It's not the peace of the world Jesus offers us. If we accept Jesus and we are given the comforter, we all too often mistake the peace offered to us as worldly peace, when it's very far from that.
John {14:27}
Peace I leave with you
my peace I give unto you
not as the world giveth,
give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled
neither let it be afraid.
John {16:33}
These things I have spoken unto you
that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation
but be of good cheer
I have overcome the world.
How can you have good cheer when you are going through tribulation?
It's having hope.
Hope that no matter what we suffer- and we will suffer - that there is hope in Jesus.
We can't hope to have worldly peace, but a peace that transcends what the world offers, a peace that can ease our hearts, our worries so that we're not all caught up in them.
There is a God connection we all were supposed to have and yet sin separates us from God.
Man disobeyed God's command and as a result they were separated from God. Changes took place when that separation happened, changes we can only imagine as we know that man goes from being unashamed of his own nakedness to being ashamed. Changes, instant changes, instant separation from being the creature God intended man to be and...it is only our arrogance, our pride which cries out and says it was a good thing that we know good and evil- God shouldn't have kept that tree of knowledge from us in the first place. God did so for a reason and obviously a very good reason when we look at the result of disobeying Him. Our own sin, our own pride and as long as we believe that it was a good thing to disobey God, how can we ever be reunited with Him?
Our only hope is Jesus.
Missing peace.
We can fill our lives we all sorts of things and yet the missing peace is our connection to God and we are offered that connection, that reuniting with God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
No, it doesn't mean you'll be given worldly peace, that your life will be all sunshine and roses, happiness and sweetness, it won't be.
The Missing Peace - not Worldly Peace.
Peace that reunites in Spirit and holds within it the future promise of a peace that reunites in all ways, physical and spiritual in Jesus.
May God bless us all and help us to hold fast to the missing peace found in Jesus through the Holy Spirit so we may be reunited with God now and forever, our hope is in Him.
Amen.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”- James 1:12
3/23/10
Continuing the study on Eternal Verities (Eternal Truths) -
I'm going to copy parts of a thought paper about the Godhead and eternal truths. I'll interject it with my own thoughts and probably end up breaking it up into digestable pieces, meaning give it bit by bit so it's not overwhelming and gives us time to think about what's being presented. If you're reading this you'll have access to the internet and as such it's easy to check various facts such as the meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Don't hesitate to take time to check things for yourself. We are accountable for what we can do and that means seeking the knowledge where we can. In our time we live in something called the 'Information Age' and it is. Information is right at our fingertips and we have to avail ourselves of it.
May God bless us as we seek to understand more fully His will, His way, the truths that we need to know and believe as this world becomes more and more deceptive.
*******
This inter-relationship of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is emphasized at each progressive revelation to the Seven Churches to whom the book is addressed. Each message is prefaced with a testimony from Jesus Christ. Each is concluded with an imperative from the Holy Spirit - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith."
Further, within the messages there is an intermingling of what Jesus will do, and what the Spirit will do. For example, to the victor of the Church at Thyatira, Jesus promises - "He that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations" (2:26); while to the victor of the Church at Ephesus, the Spirit promises - "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life" (2:7).
In the rich symbolism of the vision which John was given of the Throne of God and the activity connected with the Throne, he sees first the One sitting on the Throne, and before Him are seven torches (Gr.) of fire, which are declared to be "the seven Spirits of God." (4:5)
Not until an impasse is perceived is "a Lamb as it had been slain" revealed (5:6). This Lamb is described as "having seven horns and seven eyes" which are declared to be "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." This ''Lamb'' who was ''conceived ... of the Holy Spirit'' (Matt. 1:20), and "who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself," is symbolically portrayed before the Throne possessing the Spirit of God, as "seven horns and seven eyes," which is dispatched to the earth. He promised His disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." (John 14:18)
Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The final scenes of the Revelation of Jesus Christ center on the time when all things are made new and the call is extended to come and drink of the water of life freely. John hears "a great voice out of heaven" saying - Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Rev.21:3)
Here again is introduced the Heavenly Duo of the Gospel of John. The Word (Logos), who became flesh and tabernacled among men, now comes once again to ever dwell with them. And God - "He Who is, Who was, and Who is to come" - comes to dwell with men as their God. He makes a pronouncement from the Throne: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountains of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things: I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Rev.21:6)
In the call to this occasion, the Spirit and the bride say, "Come" (Rev.22:17). [A bride gives the invitation to her wedding] One voice comes from the "bride" - the voice of the Spirit. There is one group of earth people - the last generation - who experience this in their final testimony of victory. When delivered up, they speak, but "it is not [they] that speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:10-11) In them "the mystery of God" will be finished. (Rev. 10:7)
Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
*******
My thoughts--
Amazing. I love this verse-- '...take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak...' We do that all the time don't we? We rehearse, we plan and preplan and plan some more. We go over things in our heads a thousand times when we are waiting to give any sort of testimony. When we know a date to speak is at hand we can't help but dwell on how things might go. If this question is asked, you'll give that answer. If that question is asked then you'll say this and so on. It's normal for us to do this. We are taught in our schools to plan for things and commended for practicing our speeches and such. When it becomes a work task being prepared for any contingency shows a good sign of foresight and a good work ethic. So here you are delivered up by people out to ruin your life because of how you believe in God and you are told NOT to think about what might transpire- or more pointedly what you might say when you face those who are your accusers. No premeditation. Why no premeditation? Why? Because when in that sort of situation we have a tendency to worry. Worrying is a sign of what? A sign of lack of trust.
Luk 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luk 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luk 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luk 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
'Little faith'
We need to have quality faith don't we? And if our faith is lacking we can't please God at all.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Faith the grain of a mustard seed. Quailty faith.
Going back to the topic -
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
When we worry- when we try to figure out the answers it is usually US taking the credit for things. Worrying, being self-serving, none of this is of God so is it any wonder that we are told that we AREN'T to premediated, we aren't to think beforehand what we will say. When we come to that point in time and the hour that we have to stand before accusers and speak we will be taken over by the Holy Ghost and it won't be us speaking but the Holy Spirit will be speaking His words through us. It's going to be so amazing. We won't speak our own words. The Holy Spirit will speak His words through us, what a glorious day that will be.
May God help us as we continue to study about the Godhead, about the Eternal Truths that are in His word to us. Please Lord help our unbelief, give us the faith we need to please you. Through You all things are possible by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, by the guidance and love of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
*******