Is it just me? Or will you
agree?
Here we are, once again, at
Christmas time and most of us are unable to find the fullness of that longed
for Promised Peace. Seems more and more that we are surrounded by a social
system stirred with storms of war, conflict, and terrorism.
The news is filled with horror
stories.
PLUS, the media hype to look
younger and have more fun - and get things we don't even need! And, there's too much to do right now to even
read an article!
Need I mention the financial
pressure that most of us are having right now?
Many have searched for peace.
Some mystics and New Agers think that zoning out of reality is the answer...a
lot of people drink too much to escape -- but, that's a false peace.
In memory of his soldier son who
had died in the war, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these famous words:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of PEACE on earth, good will to men.
How can we find that peace?
Jesus lived and died to establish
many realities that stretch even beyond the salvation of our soul.
A New Society
Among many reasons, He died to
create a NEW SOCIETY upon this earth - one that is able to dwell in His
presence and embrace His PEACE in our hearts in this world (Luke 2:10, 11, 14).
And even amidst the turmoil of this hour, Jesus is our only PEACE.
Divisions and discord have long
existed. Archeologists explain the temple court in the New Testament times as
having an elevated platform for the priests, with separated sections for the
Jewish men and women. On the other side, the Gentiles were able to peer
through. Racial tensions were very prevalent
even in the Old and New Testament.
How can we find peace between
us?
We lose our peace when we build
walls between us. Walls of difference. Walls of social distinction. Walls
defined by economic distinction. Walls of tradition and diverse religious
doctrine. Walls that divide.
Years ago, I did a funeral for
the husband of a member of our church. His family members came and wept beside
the casket - but when it was time for me to speak forth the service (because
all those attending were of a different Christian faith) EVERYONE in his family
WALKED OUT of the room!
Oh Jesus - is that how you feel?
It seemed like my heart stopped.
Differing doctrines and cultural
differences can cause much heartache. I know that many of you have experienced
some sort of prejudicial treatment in your life.
Even the memories of those times
often reawaken memories.
He is Our Peace
Paul explains that those who were
afar off are bought near. "For He IS OUR PEACE because he has made both
ONE and hath broken down the middle wall partition between us.
We see here that Paul speaks
about a literal "church without walls." Sure, there was a place to
meet - but this is HIS BODY that discovered what it was like to have no
division...this is a new dimension!
Ephesians 2:15 continues to say
that God created the One New Man when He broke down (abolished, took down) the
middle wall of partition and abolished IN HIS FLESH the ENMITY which separated.
Why?
In order to make the TWO
ONE.
Division means there is NO PEACE.
Clinging to hierarchical systems of religious bigotry and biased personal
opinions has caused blood war feuds (enmity) for centuries.
Jesus takes away all divisions of class, gender, and race (Eph 2:14-22) The BODY of Christ consists of those who have allowed the walls of separation to be removed. This is a NEW CREATION - a marvelous wonder that has not existed before - people without divisions and without hostility.
Yes, there ARE guidelines of
behavior - they are established so that there would be no separation. No
detachment. No discord. No disharmony. No schisms. No false boundaries.
One New Man
Just as Adam and his wife were
joined to make "one flesh," this new creation process happens again - only this
time Jesus makes ONE NEW MAN out of all of us - we are becoming a new kind of
ONE FLESH (Eph. 2:15, 5:31, Gen. 2:24).
Remember, it is our identity in
Christ that becomes our PEACE! He has already MADE us ONE in His flesh! UNITY
is NOT something to pray to receive - it is to be reckoned as FINISHED. Again
it is restated in Eph. 2:16 "And that He
might reconcile BOTH unto God in one body by the cross."
Any action that prevents us from
living in peace and demonstrating the Kingdom denies the redemptive work of
Christ.
We can't just put a Band-Aid on a
failed religious system. We can never find peace through a pretended unity that
agrees with every doctrine or by insisting on the continuance of archaic
ritualistic systems.
Paul never intended for Gentiles
to act like Jews - The Gentiles didn't have to observe the Jewish holidays,
laws, or traditions. All of us are birthed into a NEW Creation that dwells in a
NEW KINGDOM! Jesus ALREADY reconciled us "both in ONE BODY to God through
the cross" (Eph. 2:14-16)
Peace happens when we reckon it
to ourselves.
Peace happens when we allow God
to judge and we just love!
"PEACE is what happens to us
when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."
Dr. Kluane Spake
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