Everlasting Shalom Peace

Everlasting Shalom Peace

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dOGoy49UbI

As we look around, we see a world that is in desperate need of peace, as we have a war between Russia and Ukraine that has roped in just about every nation on this earth. We also see China and North Korea testing their limits as well. But the type of peace we desire will never materialize.

And if we hear that it has, the Bible says in the end of times people will say “Peace and Safety,” but also it will be at this time that destruction will come, so instead of embracing such a peace, we need to be running the opposite direction, because it is a precursor to the coming Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.

But there is peace that is all encompassing and a greater peace than the world can offer. And this peace is for everyone, and it’s God’s Shalom Peace.

To get a visual of what this peace looks like, picture, if you would, a massive hurricane raging over the ocean. Violent winds are whipping the water into a frenzy, and giant waves are creating havoc and chaos everywhere. Ship crews fight desperately to anchor down their vessels to prevent them from being beached or sunk.

The towns and villages that dot the shoreline are in full tilt panic. People are rushing around trying to ready themselves and their homes for the coming onslaught. Many are packing their cars and families and heading inland trying to escape the coming storm.

This is not what you would call a peaceful and serene picture.

But twenty feel below the surface of the water it’s a totally different picture. The waters are clear and calm, and the fish go about living their lives completely unaware of the turmoil that is raging over their heads.

Now, there’s a truism or moral to all of this, but I want to share it with you later.

But peace is at the heart of what everyone wants. Peace in this world, peace in our lives, and peace in our relationships, not to mention peace of mind.

Have you ever noticed that when families go on a long distant trip how everyone wants to listen to different kinds of music? And nobody likes what the other person listens too.

I recently read about one family and their creative solution to this problem. Each person would take a turn and choose to listen to whatever they wanted. And the deal was that no one was allowed to complain or comment about the other person’s choice. When it got to the dad, however, he would play the same tape over and over again. It was blank.

All of us want peace in our lives, and we’ll do just about anything to get it. But before we look at what peace is, let’s take a look at What Peace Is Not

Peace is Not Avoidance

Peace is not avoiding a problem. Many think that just because there’s no conflict they have peace, but in reality, all they have is an avoidance issue.  Peace isn’t running away from a problem, ignoring an issue, or pretending it doesn’t exist.

Unfortunately, this is what’s at the heart of many relational problems. What I can say is that avoiding the problem is a lot like having termites. If you don’t deal with the problem, it’ll bring the house down.

Peace is Not Appeasement

Often for the sake of peace one person yields to the other person’s demands at the expense of their own or biblical principles. When this happens, it really isn’t a true peace; rather it’s a false peace that’s going to blow up in our faces. Peace at any price isn’t true peace.

And so, while peace is our greatest hope, it is far too often the most elusive.

I read a story about a young man named Tommy. His life was one long quest for peace

He was born from an adulterous relationship and put up for adoption.

His adoptive family loved him, but at 10 his adoptive father died, and his new father began abusing Tommy. So, Tommy ran away from home and got caught up in alcohol and drugs.

He went to multiple treatment centers and logged hundreds of hours of counseling.

Weary of struggling with his demons, as he described them, Tommy checked himself into a local motel and checked out of life.

In the letter he left behind he said, “All I ever wanted is peace.”

As we watch the news, we see this world is in desperate need of peace. There are wars, coups, uprisings, kidnappings, slave trade, terror threats and bombings around the world. In our own nation we are also seeing children killing each other, or like Tommy ending their lives before they even have a chance to live.