Can Peace Be Achieved on Earth?

John Lennon pleaded, "All we are asking, is give peace a chance." Cat Stevens called everyone to "Get on board the peace train." In 1976 the gifted vocalist, Brad Delp, of the iconic band Boston, sang, "All I want is to have my peace of mind."

Sadly, Brad Delp didn't have peace of mind. What he wanted so desperately he never achieved and it destroyed him. Brad Delp committed suicide on March 9, 2007. The sum total of all his talents, accolades and accomplishments ended with him locked in his bathroom, a suicide note pinned to his shirt stating that he was a "lonely soul," and two charcoal grills filling the room with smoke and carbon monoxide. Brad had no peace. All the ideals that he professed let him down. He had no victory over the demons that deprived him of real peace and purpose in life.

Today the cry for peace grows louder while the reality of sectarian violence, depression, hopelessness and poverty is expanding at a greater rate. Some believe we are evolving into a higher, more intellectual, loving level of existence. And yet there is no peace. Even in the professing church there is no peace as each denomination determines its way is the right way. Why does peace elude a world that says it wants peace above everything else? Can peace be achieved on earth?

The Apostle Paul began all his letters with the salutation, "Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ." In Numbers 6, the Spirit of Christ spoke to the Prophet Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.' So they shall invoke My Name on the sons of Israel and then I will bless them."

The blessing of peace came only when the priests invoked the "Name" of Yahweh on the sons of Israel. The "Name" of Yahweh means simply His character and His nature. It's the Hebrew word, "Shem," and its meaning is more than just speaking His Name. This is why we have the commandment that we are not to take His Name in vain. The context is that to accurately invoke, take on or represent His Name is in the context of His Truth. Jesus echoed the words of Psalmist, saying that we are set apart by the Father's Truth. And His Truth is defined as His Word, further clarified in the Psalms as His Law. We don't have peace because the Word of Truth is not the standard that we are all committed to.

James tells us that "quarrels and conflict among" us come from "the pleasures that wage war in your members." He tells us that men don't ask God. And if they do ask they ask with wrong, selfish motives. The problem is that my version of peace fits my selfish desires. Everyone else becomes accountable to me. And so it is with every man, and every movement of men. There can be no peace in this scenario. But didn't Jesus come to bring peace on the earth and goodwill toward men?

The answer is "no." In Matthew 10, Jesus said He did not come to bring peace, but to bring a sword that divides us. The division comes along the lines of those who submit to His Word, and those who don't.

But the answer is "yes" for each person will submit to His Truth; invoking His Name, determining to walk in His Truth, even if it means that what I've been so devoted to all my life must be set aside. But this comes only by His work of grace in those who are willing to submit. Grace is the work of the Spirit of God in the New Covenant to write His Law on our hearts, put it in our minds and cause us to walk in it.

True peace on this side of eternity can only exist between people who are committed to the Truth of God beyond themselves. But peace with the world cannot be achieved because this world is opposed to the One who created it; when each sect is devoted to their way instead of God's Truth. May we be men and women who are committed to the Truth of our Creator, even if we are found at odds with the world and those who are devoted to their own worldview. As Paul said, "Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."