There is a tremendous amount of planning and strategy to any battle, which eventually leads to combat where a soldier is pointing a gun at another human with the intent to kill and destroy. Since Cain killed Abel and mankind has followed this way of life. The Amplified Bible translates Romans 3:17 as: “They have no experience of the way of peace — they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful way they do not even recognize.”
Waging war is also very costly and destructive. The Encarta Online Encyclopedia states: “World War II basic statistics qualify it as by far the greatest war in history in terms of human and material resources expended. In all, 61 countries with 1.7 billion people, three-fourths of the world’s population, took part. A total of 110 million persons were mobilized for military service…. In terms of money spent, it has been put at more than $1 trillion. The human cost, not including more than 5 million Jews killed in the Holocaust…is estimated to have been 55 million dead –-25 million of those military and 30 million civilians….”
Jesus Christ taught each of us should strive to become a peacemaker. Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The Apostle Paul also emphasized a peaceful approach in Ephesians 4:1-3. “I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
In Greek the word ‘endeavoring’ means, “to exert oneself, to give diligence,” and is translated in modern translations as: “Making every effort” (Modern English Bible), “be zealous in love” (Moffatt), “spare no effort” (New English Bible), “make it your aim” (Phillips) and “do all you can” (Jerusalem Bible). We have to work at peace, doing all we can to bring about it in the situations we face, as Psalm 34:14 exhorts: “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Jesus Christ is called the “Prince of Peace” and when He eventually returns to earth He will establish peace for the first time in the history of mankind: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end….” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Isaiah 53:4-5 tells us why Jesus Christ is called the Prince of Peace: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Jesus was prepared to pay the price for peace, making it possible for us to be reconciled to the Father and to learn to live in peace with our neighbor.
Peace is much more than not fighting a war. Peace has a price, which is the willingness to take an undeserved loss. Taking a loss is repugnant to human nature, with our carnal nature focused on the self and our selfish wants and desires. Baruch Spinoza, 17th century Dutch philosopher, made this observation: “Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.” The Bible tells us peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and is a part of God’s nature.
The history of man is replete with the strong taking from the weak, and failing to be his brother’s keeper. James 4 shows that wars come from our lust and wrong desires. In 1 Corinthians 6:6 Paul describes members of the New Testament church who were willing to go to any length to get what they wanted: “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before the unbelievers!” In verse 7 he urges them to strive for a peaceful settlement: “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?”
These Corinthians were not willing to take a loss like Jesus Christ was throughout His life and death. Notice Paul’s inspired words in Philippians 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Christ had the rights and privileges of God before His human birth, coexisting with the Father for eternity, but did not cling to those privileges and was willing to take a loss because of His love for us.
We live in an age where everyone demands their rights. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:1-15, explained that he had certain rights as a minister. He could have married. He could have taken the tithes from the Corinthian church, but he did not demand his rights. Paul was willing to take a loss to serve. Another example is mentioned in Genesis 13:7-9, when there was strife between the servants of Abraham and Lot, because the land could not support the herds of both families. Abraham allowed himself to be put at a disadvantage in order to have peace. He gave Lot the choice of where to settle, and Lot chose the most fertile region.
Notice Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:12-13. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” We are admonished to bear with one another and forgive: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (verses 14-15).
It is human nature to repay evil to those who make us suffer loss, but Christ explains we are to be different, and an example to this world. We are to have concern and love for our enemies, and to do them good. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven….” (Matthew 5:43-45). God is the author of peace. Satan is the author of war. As Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
