Lifelines:
The forces of evil collected themselves for the ultimate conflict. The violence would be indescribable as they collided with absolute holiness. It was the collision that would shake heaven and earth. The Son of God prepared His followers for the traumatic confrontation with unlikely words of peace (John 6:33). Indeed, this world brings trials and troubles. Not to worry, He has conquered it.
News of peace is always welcomed. Wars rage. Terrorists smuggle bombs aboard planes. Radicals shoot up military bases. Gangs bully the streets. Peace is in short supply and high demand. The world has a counterfeit that it offers (John14:27) and finds many takers. Do not be fooled. The Lord has something better. His emanates from a purer source and has eternal qualities. It lasts forever and is ours for the taking.
The treaty is signed in blood and ratified in faith. The conditions were met when Jesus hung on a cross (Colossians 1:20). Never has any individual endured so much to make peace possible for so many. The battle lines were drawn when we chose to sin. We picked our army, and it was the losing one. Only holy blood could reconcile the two warring factions. Jesus paved the way to resolution hanging between to criminals.
The guilty are justified by faith (Romans 5:1), and the consequences echo through the halls of heaven. The justified sinner has peace with God. No longer on the losing side of the conflict, we enjoy harmony with the One who desires it the most. Formerly weak, sinful enemies are reunited with their Creator. There is nothing on earth to compare. The sleep is sweet when we are at one with our Father.
Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). We need look no further for a solution to human conflict. This world is characterized by division. People segregate themselves by age, gender and race. Soon separation turns into agitation and the war is on. Words fly with guns and knives following close behind. What is the answer? Jesus Christ. He took enemies and brought them together. He made them one new thing; Christians. Peace resulted.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled…(John 14:1).” Those are among the last words that Jesus would say to His apostles as He prepared them for the turbulence ahead. You and I will never know such times. As troublesome as our times may be, they cannot compare with those. The Son of God will never be executed again. If He could offer them peace at such a time, surely He has it for us; peace with the Father, with each other and within our own hearts. Accept no fraud. His is different than any other.