The Significance of Peace

Definition of Peace

It is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within man’s heart. The Hebrew word is shalom meaning, primarily, “soundness,” “health,” but coming also to signify “prosperity,” well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God.

Shalom was the common friendly greeting, used in asking after the health of anyone; also in farewells.

Peace from enemies (implying prosperity) was the great desire of the nation and was the gift of God to the people if they walked in His ways.

Inward peace was the portion of the righteous who trusted in God.

Peace was to be sought and followed by the righteous (Ps 34:14; Zac 8:16, Zac 8:19).

In the New Testament, where eirene has much the same meaning and usage as shalom (for which it is employed in the Septuagint).

Perfect Peace ?

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... Perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The King chose the second picture. Do you know why? “Because,” explained the King, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace”.

What is Peace

Peace is a status of inner joy, tranquility and comfort accompanied the divine dwelling into the heart or presence of God inside the heart.

Peace is strength and blessing gifted to us from God “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Ps 29:11).

“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18). Man enjoyed peace and joy in paradise; peace with God, with nature, and with himself. We lost our peace by our transgression, and we restore it back by the incarnation of the Word “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14); “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

Jacob, the patriarch of the Old Testament, while he was near to die lying on his bed in Egypt, he didn’t loose his peace, but rather prophesied about the coming of the Prince of peace “Shiloh” who will give His peace to men (Gen 49:10). Eras and eras passed, but Shiloh didn’t come yet. Finally, a Man came, whose life was filled with sorrows and tribulations, a “Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief” but His face declares perfect peace. About Him, all the prophecies revealed Him as the Giver of peace to men. His heart was filled with peace, and He granted us His peace, by saying “My peace I give to you” (Jhn 14:27).

Three dimensions

1. To live in peace with God
2. To live in peace with yourself
3. To live in peace with others

Christ our Peace

Christ, King of peace, established peace reconciling God the Father with us “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him, to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20)

He reconciled and unified the two (Jews and Gentile) into one body “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity… so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Eph 2:14-16)

Becoming one body, the peace of Christ rules in our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col 3:15)… since the peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in us “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22, 23). So, we should be “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3).

Peace and Righteousness

To enjoy peace with God, we have to live in righteousness.

Peace is the fruit of righteousness. Could the wicked have peace?

Peace is the case that proves our sacred fellowship with God, while disturbance and worry are the fruits of sin. Maturity of sin leads to desperation and loosing hope, and may lead to suicidal mood. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Isa 57:20, 21)

Losing peace indicates that certain committed sin exists. So, search for it, rebuke yourself and repent to restore back your peace.

Inner peace

As soon as man realizes that committing his sin separates him from the Almighty God, the source of his power and protection, he looses his inner peace. This leads to suffering from fear, wariness, anxiety, troubling, disturbance…etc.

Personal peace is the result of:

• Inner purity, since without submitting the body to the spirit, man will suffer inner division, and for sure, will not enjoy inner peace. Such a person will enjoy inner peace by controlling the body desires and submitting the body to the leadership of the spirit.
• Believing that God has everything under control. It becomes a reality when we shift our focus from problems we cannot solve to a higher vision of hopefulness.

Experiencing inner peace is not limited to times of tranquility, but even during troublesome and tribulations. The person who enjoyed inner peace is able to give tranquility to others and to comfort them during their tribulations.

Living in peace with others

Our Lord Jesus exhorted us, “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mk 9:50); St. Paul exhorts, “Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2Cor 13:11)

Living in peace with others demands to:

1. Do your best to achieve that “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18).
2. Don’t be sensitive towards other’s mistakes against you.
3. Be patient, forgive and forget.
4. Be just with yourself regarding your trespasses against others.

Peace, being the fruit of the Spirit, surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7).