It's always so good to hear of peace breaking out in some war-torn region of the world. And of course so many of us are longing for lasting peace in Ukraine. But, standing back from this dreadful situation, it's also true to say that from international relations to family life, we all need peace... a quality of peace beyond simply the absence of personal trauma or domestic turmoil. Yet whilst some of us may speak of wanting to experience the 'peace of God', we must first find peace WITH God. And with this in mind, thankfully His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, tells us how this is possible... through a personal relationship with Him...
'I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father
except through me.'
John 14:6
Yet our basic human nature... our pre-occupation with self... our pride, unbelief and self-sufficiency... get in the way all the time. This leads us to ignore or reject our Creator and leaves even the best of us facing fearful consequences...
'… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...'
'… people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.'
Romans 3:23 & Hebrews 9:27
Thankfully, that first Easter weekend was to see the single greatest event in the whole of human history... the greatest act of sacrificial love the world has ever known.
PEACE INITIATIVE
Christ Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly gave His life on the Cross of Calvary, on our behalf... taking the punishment that we deserve for living in rebellion against our Maker...
'...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.'
Romans 5:8
Or, as the words of the old hymn put it...
'There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin.
He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.'
But then the 'benefits' of all this are not forced upon us. We must seek His forgiveness and with His help, turn from all we know to be wrong. And then, in asking the risen Christ Jesus into our lives to become our own personal Saviour and Lord, we're given a brand new start in life... with the motivation and power to live a new lifestyle pleasing to Him...
'...if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
PEACE PROCESS
So as we ask ourselves, 'What does Easter mean to me today?', it would be so easy just to leave it at a few days off and a handful of cream eggs! Yet to ignore or reject Him, and all that He has done for us, well, the consequences would surely be unthinkable...
'Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because they have not believed
in the name of God's one and only Son.'
John 3:18
So then, what better time than at Easter, if you haven't yet found peace with God, why not, with an open heart and mind, abandon your rebellion and seek Him... the Prince of Peace.
Because, as you reach out to Him you'll find that He is already reaching out to you, in love.
Thanks for a wonderful Easter message, Barry.