Peace. What does that little word conjure up? Some think of a time if no war. We are peace talks and peace treaties. We remember calls for “peace in our time.” Those of us who remember the 60s remember peace rallies and peace symbols. On this little island we are excited that there seems to be peace for the first time in hundreds of years. Peace is a wonderful thing.
Sadly though, man’s peace is a fragile, unstable, and untrustworthy state. Eventually peace is broken and there is conflict once again. All it takes is one violent or senseless act and peace breaks down once again. I just finished a book where the author contends that the world has been at a constant state of war since Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated. All over the world there are wars and conflicts that may not make major news, but are very real to those involved.
Conflict seems to be a constant part of our lives, yet as Jesus prepared for the end of His earthly ministry He told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you.” Notice that He said that His peace would not be the same as the world’s peace. His peace was a whole different kind of peace. What could He possibly mean by that? What kind of peace could He be offering? In the Old Testament one of the names of God is “Jehovah-Shalom – the LORD is peace.” God’s very nature is one of peace. Jesus promised us peace. Why then does life seem so un-peaceful at times?
The problem is, I think, that just possibly we misperceive peace. One author put it this way, and I think this really captures the essence of God’s peace:
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.
A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46
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