Chapter 4 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 1 |
Quest for Peace By Roxy J Nolin Chapter 1 The Source of Peace |
Chapter 1 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace." Isaiah 9:6. One of the greatest cries of humanity since 9-11 is a cry for peace! The world is in turmoil trying to bring peace as the answer to all their stability. Somehow they think if we could get along, share our goodwill of riches and armies, no one would have to be afraid again. Yet, in reality, we quickly realize that this is not what is happening in the world today. The world within is deteriorating at a rapid pace; the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, the powerful are getting more powerful. There is more worry and anxiety towards our future than there has ever been in the history of planet earth. Simply there is unrest within humanity but man in his quest for peace is searching the realm of the flesh, instead of turning to the realm of God's Spirit for answers. The world is oblivious to the fact that it is not on the exterior that man will find peace but that it is the need for peace in the heart of man that will bring true contentment of peace. From God, the message of peace is meant for the heart of man, and it is in the heart of man through receiving God's peace, that life will change as it is. God has never been moved by our outward appearance or performance but is moved by people who are looking to Him to establish peace from His perspective. God longs for humanity to respond to His love and what he has accomplished through the finished work of the cross. He desires man to follow His perfect will, a will that He establishes peace to all men. If humanity would respond toward the heart of God, they would realize that God has swore by Himself to establish the promises in His Word to give them everything that pertains to life and godliness. This is peace! Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." God is the creator of all peace. True peace with no darkness or confusion. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." Confusion comes from the dark side! Actually darkness knows no peace. Yet in its effort to blind the eyes of the world, to the truth of God's peace, it presents a counterfeit loud and clear in a deceptive way that leads to confusion and false hopes. The question is how do we discern the smoke screen of darkness and allow the light of God's peace to consume our heart? Can we find it in the riches of our land? In our relationships? In the security of our job, home and land? Do we look to the leaders of our nation, our parents or even our spiritual guides? Or do we look to the source of peace, Jesus Christ the Living Word of God, the new covenant established for our peace. This is where the journey must begin. A journey that will lead us to the place of true peace and contentment with God. It begins with the work and obedience of one man, the man Jesus Christ. Restoring Peace to Man 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, "It was God (personally present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with himself, not counting and holding against men their trespasses, but canceling them and committing to us the message of reconciliation of the restoration of God's favor or peace." To reconcile means, God has restored peace, which was lost in the fall of Adam. And that through His Son, has blotted out our sins, in turn imparting to us the Spirit of His Son, who in turn enables us to bring forth peace and reconciliation. In the book of Luke chapter one, an angel appeared and said, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." They then praised God saying, "And on earth peace, good will toward men." The message brought forth was not peace between men; it was the message of peace between God and man. How did this peace come? Through the finished work of the cross and the shedding of Jesus' blood. Man was separated from God through sin. He was fit for punishment but Jesus took man's sin upon Himself. He suffered the judgment and wrath of mankind and made a way of reconciliation. Mankind now has peace with God through the cross! Colossians 1:19-20 says, "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 of things in heaven having made peace through the blood of His cross." Understand God is no longer angry at the world, His anger and judgement of sin has been satisfied through the blood of Christ. By His perfect sacrifice He has brought peace between man and God, He truly is the Prince of Peace! Peace in Salvation John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; my [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled]." Today, the barrier between God and man has been broken. And by accepting Jesus! We then appropriate peace, in turn move to the working of peace for our temporal life. Simply, peace comes only through salvation. This is inner peace! If man is not first at peace within himself, he can never know or find true peace with others. This is where humanity has a problem with their thinking. They assume that if they can make peace with a nation, they will be safe, or if they make peace with their neighbor, they will not have to worry about their environment. Now this may work for a short time, but if God's peace is not in the other nation or neighbor, there is no real foundation for peace, no substance because only God's peace can create stability, world peace or community peace! So in order for us to walk the life of peace, we must first get peace. And this source can only be found or come through Christ. Simply, if we do not know Jesus as our Savior, then we truly do not know or have peace. What we need to do is confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. By doing this we will appropriate peace, in turn we will experience the wonderful working of His peace in our heart. The wall of offence-sin is destroyed, we no longer need to feel afraid but at rest with God-peace! Friend, peace is our birth right in Christ. We as God's children possess the key to access all of His peace. All we need to do is receive it by faith. Simply, it is impossible for us to make it in ourselves, but it's ours through Christ-by faith, so take it! He Himself Is Our Peace Ephesians 2: 13-15 says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace." Through this new and wonderful birth we have been accepted into God's family, no longer alienated by the middle wall of division (sin). We are joint-heirs with Christ, taken from the dunghill and placed as a prince seated in heavenly places. God is not our enemy. He is not our problem. He is the solution to a life of peace. God shows no favoritism. Peace is not for a chosen few. It is for all who believe in Him. He is our absolute peace! |
Copyright Roxy J Nolin 2002 |
About the Author Roxy J Nolin has been a Pastor-Teacher since 1985. He has a gift to minister God's Word with vibrant and uncompromising effects. He has ministered across US, Canada and Asia. As well as pastoral and pioneering several churches, he was Director and overseer of a Denomination in Canada. He has a Business Management and Marketing background, a Degree in Biblical Studies and has authored several books. He and his wife Jan have four children, one grandson and reside in the City of Calgary Alberta Canada. |
The Book Quest for Peace |
Word of Grace Media Ministries |
