We are celebrating peace during this Holiday Folk Fair, let me just share a few words about this great topic.
Three things I’d like you to think about:
1. The One and Only True God is a God of Peace!
2. On our own, we can not attain ultimate peace.
3. God freely offers ultimate peace to every person!
How can we know that God is a God of peace?
When you look at the stars and ponder at the universe, in spite of billions of suns blazing with fire, is the universe, which God created, in peace and order or chaos? How many of you have been up north and enjoyed a starry night sky or even the Northern Lights??
We read at the start of the Bible, In the beginning God created the heavens!
Did you know that the earth was created first before all the stars and the other galaxies? Why? – because God loves people and He made sure that the planet people will live on is set first. Everything in the universe are only add-ons to the planet we live on! God created this planet for us to live on; then God created the sun and the moon for you and me; then God created Mercury, Mars, Venus and all the other planets for you and me; then God created other galaxies for you and me. God loves you and me; and He created the universe to reveal who He is. God is a God of power but also is a God of love, peace, and order! Psalm 19:1 tells us, The heavens declare the glory of God!
God Himself tells us through His Word that He is a God of peace! God desires peace for people! Psalm 29:11 states, The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
And God exists in Three Persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Son of God Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we read in Galatians 5:22, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE!
Do you desire peace? Believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
You see, on our own, we can not attain ultimate peace.
We need God in our lives because God is the source of ultimate peace.
How can we know that man on his own can not attain ultimate peace? Think about this for a moment: After Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden, has there really been a time when there was no war in the world? Even now, and we can easily forget, we Americans are still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan! Would you close your eyes for a moment and pray for safety for our men and women in the frontlines of battle…..
The Son of God Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:6-8, You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Are we today hearing wars and rumors of wars? Are there famines and earthquakes happening today? Are you alarmed? We shouldn’t be alarmed if we believe in the One and Only True God who is a God of peace!
And this God has always offered peace to man! Even though evil spread to the whole world, God saved 8 people after flooding the entire earth. Then God said in Genesis 9:12-16, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth"
God led and provided for Abraham and his family. God chose a people to bless. God told Joshua before entering the Promised Land Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. God’s peace overcomes fear!
And of course, some are already celebrating God’s greatest offer of peace to man; It seems that we are seeing Christmas decorations and hearing Christmas music earlier and earlier in the year! Christmas is a time to celebrate “Peace on earth, good will to men”! But let me ask this question, how peaceful is your Friday right after Thanksgiving?
We can all have peace! Let’s not mess it up for ourselves and for those around us! God is the only source of true peace and He offers it to us for now and forever. We read in Romans 5:1-2, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
I highlighted faith because it all starts there. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. As we seek God and believe in Him (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we will be rewarded with love, PEACE, and joy, now and forever!
Please take a moment to close your eyes and quiet your heart. Believe and receive God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Enjoy God’s Peace but also commit to be an instrument of peace. Let’s all pray quietly for a moment. Be still and know God!
