Irene is a
beautiful name. It is derived from the Greek word “eirene” which means “peace”.
We have just come out of the season in which we Christians celebrated the birth
of the Prince of Peace. Sorrowfully we have entered a new year in which we find
little peace being trumpeted in the headlines, within nations, or between
nations.
Like all the
far wiser people who have lived among us, I have no generally accepted solution
for the plight mankind faces. Following the biblical story, we have known rage,
jealousy, conflict, and senseless murder from the second and third generations
of our ancestors. Even that was born from the rebellion of the first humans who
refused to accept the obedience commanded by their Creator. (Genesis 2-4)
As a
follower of Jesus Christ and a believer that man bears a fallen nature, I do
not see a world at peace before the return of the Prince of Peace. Man cannot
create an era of peace by his own power. He cannot create a Christian century
no matter what century. His own power craves more power over nature and over
his fellow creatures. Such an addiction will allow for no peace. There can only
be control and domination.
Is there no
hope whatsoever then for experiencing that divine trait of peace? Yes, there is
hope, but it is not a hope offered by the world. It is only offered by the
Prince of Peace.
Joh 14:27 "Peace is what I
leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the
world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
The
uniqueness of the peace Jesus offers is best seen in its origin, a
transformation by his forgiveness, grace, and love; and its central location,
within the hearts of individuals. Jesus comes to individuals and makes an offer
of a personal relationship. He forces nothing. He rejects fear as a method and
relies solely on love and the promise of grace.
He does this
though he knows the world will have no patience for those who come to him in
this fashion. The world will use its own methods to reclaim what it has lost.
Mat
5:10-12 "Happy are those who are
persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to
them! Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds
of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a
great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived
before you were persecuted.
Mat
5:43-45 "You have heard that it was
said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the
children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and
good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do
evil.
Jesus is
under no illusion that his ways will be acceptable to the world. His kind of
peace forces people to make decisions if they are to follow his standards and
seek his goals, both of which are contrary to the aims of a world ruled by
greed and a lust for power. His sword takes the form of an unbending obedience
to God’s path of love.
Mat
10:34-36 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I
did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their
fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their
mothers-in-law; your worst enemies will be the members of your own family.
The Apostle
Paul’s solution is to accept this as the course of events which will follow anyone
who is determined to serve the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, instead of the
evil powers of this earthly realm.
Rom
14:19 So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that
help strengthen one another.
