Real Peace

     Wow!  The world today really is in a mess.  I guess you could say that almost every day that you wake up.  It is hard to say that today is worse than yesterday, but it seems as if it is.  I received a magazine called "Cornerstone" and was reading an article about why the writer loves to attend the mid week prayer meeting.  One of the reasons states, "It is a time of spiritual refreshment in the midst of a hostile world.  All week long we are confronted with this world.  Its constant assault can dull our spiritual senses and wear us down in spiritual apathy.  The prayer meeting is a great way to get refocused on the thing that really matters."  Countries are testing their missiles and everyone says that they can reach the United States with them.  What on earth are we going to do?  Well, we are not at a loss at all.  John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
      We know that mankind has been at war for centuries if not ever since the beginning of our population.  We see evidence of war in the the Book of Genesis and from there on, all through the Bible.  In our own lifetime, we have seen countless war.  In 1985 and article in the local Spanish newspaper in Madrid, cited that there were over 58 wars going on throughout the world.  We find anger prevalent in the lives of men and women from road rage to nuclear bombs.  Neighbors are yelling at neighbors, hate seems to be in everyone's heart and world peace seems next to almost impossible.  In the midst of all this, the Apostle John wrote, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the above verse of Scripture.  The words of the Lord Jesus Christ proclaim that there is peace available in the world, but it only comes in one way.  It comes through Christ Himself.  The Lord Jesus Christ was preparing to leave and He was giving the disciples some lessons on what to do in the world when He left.  One of the lessons was the fact that we can have peace in our hearts even in the midst of road rage and a nuclear bomb.  Christ didn't mention those particular items, but He does mention that His peace is something that the world cannot offer.  The U. N. cannot offer what Christ can give and no treaty with any country can grant lasting peace to any people.  It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that we can possess peace in our hearts.  Praise God for giving us a way to have peace in our lives even in the world in which we live.