Peace, man....

Today, I'm focusing on peace. When you think of peace, what comes to mind? a tranquil pool? a meditational garden? or a peace rally with activists chanting angrily? Maybe you think of hippies and the anti-nuclear proliferation symbol, the peace sign. Maybe you think of flowers inserted in guns.

We think of peace as the opposite of war and turmoil. And yet to have peace, we must strive. Even if you just want a peaceful bath, you have to make an effort to draw a bathtub of hot water. We like candles and frou-frou scents or herbal soaps to calm us. Maybe a cup of chamomille tea...ahhhhhh. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. According to Zondervan's New International Version of the Bible, shalom means "harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being and success in all areas of life" (1992, p.1134) Peace is resting...

But again it takes EFFORT to have peace, to walk in peace, to bring peace. The writer to the Hebrews talked about rest and peace. He writes in chapter 12, verses 14-15: "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up among you to cause trouble and defile many."

So he implies that it takes effort to walk in peace. We don't just walk in peace naturally. Notice how he also warned us to be careful of what we think and say to others, "let no root of bitterness (attitude and thoughts) grow up among you and cause trouble (or sow discord by gossiping about someone) and defile many (the rumor weed has a way of spreading)."

In another place, Paul wrote to some of his friends encouraging them, "As far as it lies with you, be at peace with one another." Paul recognized that we are only responsible for ourselves. We cannot control how someone else may respond to us, but it is our responsibility to be at peace as much as we can contribute.

What I really find interesting is that the writer to the Hebrews connected belief with rest or peace, and unbelief with turmoil. First of all, the writer reminds the readers that they should keep their focus on Jesus, in whom all things are held together in the universe and who is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of God's being, sustaining all things by his POWERFUL WORD.

Go back and read Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4, especially now that you know that what we believe in our hearts and speak with our mouths literally creates realities as it shifts subatomic particles and moves the universe. I'm telling you, you will get beside yourself with joy! You will begin to see these old writings in a whole new light. You won't want to stop reading this whole book of Hebrews and then you'll want to read the Book of John and you will be blown away! And then you'll read the book of James (who was Jesus' brother) and you'll think "how did I NOT see all this before?"

The unknown writer to the Hebrews says, "Hey! The people who saw miraculous event after miraculous event were intended for rest and peace, but they hardened their hearts." They spoke against Moses, but more importantly they grumbled and complained against God, and so God said, "Okay, you don't get to enter into the rest I had designed for you." And an entire generation died in the wilderness because of their unbelief and complaining!

Except for two guys who dared to believe God, Joshua and Caleb. And they said, "So what if the people in the land are bigger than us and have more advanced weapons? God has given us this land." And they got to see the walls of a city which were more than 30 feet thick literally crumble without raising a sword or going into battle. They sang songs of victory before the victory was even theirs!

Are you getting it? They saw the future (that's where those pesky tachyons come into the equation). Tachyons are particles/waves which move faster than the speed of light. Think of deju vu. They saw it and believed it and then used their voices to shift matter! and BOOM! After 7 seven days of walking around the city and praising God for the victory, it collapsed.

So back to Hebrews 3 and 4, God says some of the people who saw miraculous stuff still didn't believe so they were denied peace. BUT there still remains a rest for the people who will dare to trust God. The writer says it like this: "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith!" God always intended us for a Sabbath-rest. He always intended for us to have peace.

Verses 10 and 11 say that since there is still a promise of rest for us, "let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience." God says we can have peace!

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." His is the kind of peace that transcends all understanding.

Paul wrote to his friends who were arguing over food, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." He encouraged the people in Ephesus, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

He ends with this hope for his friends: "Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." I believe Paul understood the power of his words spoken on behalf of his friends when those words are coupled with faith and a sincere love. And that is how those same friends faced torture and death at the hands of people who just didn't understand. They faced it with joy and peace in their hearts!