The world is in turmoil and all kinds of solutions are put forth to solve the problem. There are those who say we must give equal credence to each of the many religious beliefs, and since one religion is as good as another, one must give equal respect to each of them. Right at the outset of the lesson it must be said that such a notion is most ridiculous and impossible. No matter how much one desires that to be practiced, one system of belief will always rise to the top and be dominant. The dominance will be either come about by force employed by adherents of strange religions or by willing compliance due to the conscience being pricked by the Word of God, which will bring repentance and obedience to the gospel.

A very popular utterance from the President on down is that Islam is a religion of peace. Without getting into the teachings of that religion, suffice it to say that the only belief that speaks of genuine peace is that which is found in the Bible. All others are false with no hope for the believer. No other belief speaks of eternal life for the believer which comes about as a result of the salvation that Jesus Christ brought to mankind. That came about and still comes about because of the work of Christ.

Before Jesus went to the cross, he said, 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. (John 14:27)  The peace that Jesus gives is the foundation for all other aspects of life. Knowing and claiming his peace is the security that God offers to all who will believe. He said his peace is different from the world which is artificial at best. Nations of people may not be engaging in war, but there is always that underlying turmoil in the mind that causes one to be wary of what tomorrow may bring. Any peace the world offers is fleeting and history bears that out. No matter what the U.N. people say, or what the leaders of nations say, or what politicians pronounce, there is no peace dividend because unrepentant God denying people can’t keep the peace.

Hostility was the order of the day between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews had the Laws of Moses and the Gentiles didn’t. But through the work of Jesus, peace was made possible between them. Paul wrote the Ephesians, Chapter 2:13-18: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  (Confer with Isaiah 57:19-21) People who were hostile toward each other now had a commonality through Christ. The wall separating them was broken down. (Read the whole of Ephesians Chapter 2)

Yet, today the people of the world who won’t turn to God continue to make war with each other. Diverse groups and nations continue to try to make themselves supreme over other groups and nations. That applies to the church as well (using the term to mean all of those who believe in God but whose tenants are different than the gospel message.) The Galatians church had a problem due to the Christian Jews trying to impose the demands of the law on the Gentiles even thought Jesus took away the need for law keeping. Then later Paul wrote in II Timothy4:1-4: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Is that not what has happened today? All kinds of groups with different beliefs are vying to be supreme; especially those groups of people who speak to a different god and do it by force to bring people into compliance.

As long as God is denied and rejected there can be no peace and therefore no unity. We know that is true from the many verses in the scriptures. We also know that is true from a study of history. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The writer of Hebrews said in Chapter 13:20-21: Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. God brings us peace through Christ when we bow to him and work to his glory. And unity is the result when people accept the peace with God found in Jesus Christ.

© 10-26-2007 DEC

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