“Peace with God!”
Of all the noble pursuits in life, like climbing Mount Everest or sailing around the world or even eradicating hunger and poverty, nothing compares to the pursuit of having peace with God. Think about it! If one actually does fulfill his ultimate goal, whether it is a physical challenge like climbing a large mountain or a humanitarian challenge like ending hunger, yet he completes the challenge without possessing peace with his maker, what has he actually gained? He has spent a good portion of his time, money and energy accomplishing something that ultimately fails to bring him enduring peace.
Consider the challenges that people face when peace is absent in everyday relationships. A husband and wife will experience extreme emotional challenges if peace remains elusive in their marriage. The toll will be more than either partner can afford if there remains an environment of constant friction. Eventually, the weight of that burden will permanently damage the marriage and except for the grace of God the couple will separate emotionally, spiritually and often times physically.
When the relationship between parents and children is characterized by strife and hostility the eventual outcome will be resentment, bitterness, anger, and ultimately a drifting apart. Children will seek out ways to keep themselves occupied so that they won’t have to be around their parents. While parents will often times do the same thing, or they will try to guilt the child into conformity, neither of which will result in a peaceful, enduring relationship. Lack of peace in the family unit is the most obvious example, but life can be just as difficult when peace in the workplace is absent. It keeps employees from wanting to go to work or when they are at work an employee will not be as productive if there is conflict with another employee or with a boss. The point is, pursuing peace with God is the most important thing that time, money and energy could ever be spent on.
When a person who has been estranged from God all her life, discovers that God has made peace with her, through His Son, Jesus, it re-orients her entire life. No longer is she wearing herself out trying to manage all of her different relationships and duties, trying to bring some sense of purpose and peace through her own strength. All of a sudden the peace she has with God spills over into all of her relationships. Even when the other member of a relationship acts unbecoming toward her, she is able to maintain a loving and caring perspective because her ultimate relationship with God is forever whole.
"THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). " (Romans 5:1, AMP)
May God’s peace rule in your hearts and in your relationships!
Pastor Gibbs