Peace

​Isaiah 32:16–17 (NIV) “ The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, His righteousness live in the fertile field.  The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; Its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
 
Philippians 4:7–9 (NIV) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
 
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood up at the Virginia Convention, before the actual start of the Revolutionary War, and said these words: “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace — but there is no peace.”
 
We live in a time where there is no peace, even though people earnestly seek it. Our nation is divided. Both sides seek peace, but they fight for this peace in opposing ways. In fact, they fight in ways that destroy the peace of the other side.
 
What do we do? How do we respond?
 
First, we close our Facebook account and never restart it.
 
Second, we embrace the only way true peace can be found. 
 
In all the rhetoric of these days, both sides agree on a fallacy. They believe that they can achieve true peace through government policies and social change. Unfortunately, as well intended as this is, it is false.
 
True peace, the peace that transcends all understanding, only comes from a relationship with the Creator of the universe, which is found through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
 
Until the One who is truly just changes someone’s life, bringing reconciliation and love where there was misunderstanding and hate, peace will never be attained. We can try all the policies and change we want, all the protests and counter-protests, all the opinion writings and posts, but none of those will affect a heart. Only God can do that.
 
So, as we seek peace, no matter the side of the issue we are on, let us seek it in God and pray for changed hearts.