Saturday, January 7, 2012

Peace Treaty

(Wikipedia image) Jesus is referred to in the bible as the Rock of all ages.

Peace accords. Peace agreements. Peace pacts.

They come in many forms and sizes, and world leaders talk of peace negotiations like they're the next big breakthrough against global warming.

Yet we've all seen where these peace intentions ended. Wars within nations as what's happening today in Syria and Libya. Wars between nations, like when the US went after Saddam after 9/11. And lately, Egypt vowing to no longer negotiate any peace accord with Israel. None to follow, they say, after that landmark 1979 treaty brokered by Jimmy Carter between Israel's Menachem Begin and Egypt's Anwar Sadat.

We have our own share of failed peace talks between rebels and the government in our own corner of the world.

Don't get your hopes up on these. Jesus himself said in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 that before His coming, the earth will be in such turmoil: Wars and rumors of wars. But it's not just about broken peace pacts and civil discord, but the earth trembling at its core, bringing about volcanic eruptions, floods and earthquakes.

We're seeing all these right under our nose and magnified for greater fear by incessant newscasts on cable television.

Jesus said these are just the beginning of birth pains. More to come folks!

Where does one run for safety and protection? Because when it does happen, you will either die or your entire life swept away by the rampaging waters, the lava or the firepower. And if you remain the lone man standing in your clan, what's there to live for?

The blow by blow account of all these tragedies repeatedly pouring into our living rooms are enough to make you tremble.

"They have healed the brokenness of my people superficially, saying 'peace peace' but there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14. Message Bible)

If you expect any human institution or the government to engineer peace, you're in for a disappointment. Because the only peace that you could ever attain rests on the one upon whom governments should be depending on but refuse to heed till now.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Unless government leaders submit to the Lordship of Christ, nations will search for solutions in all the wrong places. Can you imagine what our government would be capable of doing if our leaders can just get a grip of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace? Changed hearts ripe for wisdom and righteous governing!

But Jesus says to those who believe and obey Him, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Our government may fail us. Nature may continuously be in uproar. But Jesus promises: peace that passes all understanding. That in spite of calamity, tremors, tsunamis, loss and even death, we can rest in the assurance that He is there to save and to strengthen.

And He will not allow you to be lost, even if you lose your life. He holds your life in the palm of His mighty hand.

That's the only peace treaty you can ever bank on---with your life. Trust in Jesus and you're insured for life. Eternal life. No tsunami, landslide or civil war can take that away from you.

That's a pact sealed forever in heaven.

1 comment:

  1. Double amen! He's all we'd ever need because He's the God of more than enough.

    ReplyDelete