In the beginning Adam and Eve knew God and walked with him. They talked to God and participated in caring for the world God had made. Adam and Eve were without sin. There was no conflict, no barrier, nothing between them. Nothing getting in the way of them knowing and loving God. Their hearts were whole.
They were at peace with God.
They were at peace with God.
On that day when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, God came looking for them. Seeking out the people he loved. Adam and Eve knew they had done wrong. They had gone against God. So they hid. Now this fruit, this disobedience, was between them and God.
Now, as fallen people, they couldn’t walk with God in the mornings. They couldn’t share in his glorious garden. Couldn’t enjoy the fruit of the garden. There was no longer access to the tree of life.
The tree of the knowledge and good and evil came between them and God. A barrier between them knowing and loving God.
Adam, Eve and their descendants now only knew life outside of the garden, where God was distant and sin reigned in their hearts. They no longer had peace.
Now, as fallen people, they couldn’t walk with God in the mornings. They couldn’t share in his glorious garden. Couldn’t enjoy the fruit of the garden. There was no longer access to the tree of life.
The tree of the knowledge and good and evil came between them and God. A barrier between them knowing and loving God.
Adam, Eve and their descendants now only knew life outside of the garden, where God was distant and sin reigned in their hearts. They no longer had peace.
There were those who followed God, who God revealed himself to, beacons of hope of what was to come, but still a stark reality of what was. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt yet the chaos in their hearts came with them. God set up the temple and offerings so his people could be close to him again, but because of the sin in their hearts, the sin of the tree became a physical curtain and hung between the Israelites and the presence of God.
A covenant of peace was made with God, surely there would be peace now.
Israel broke the covenant.
They were not at peace with God.
They went through kings, judges and prophets and yet the chaos continued in their hearts.
For so long they had sought out peace. They completely lost sight of what peace was or felt like, the garden was too far removed.
So they did what was right in their own eyes. Forging worldly peace with nations around them, fleeting peace based on temporal circumstances and fickle people. There was no true peace.
Satan was pleased that the world did not understand the importance of peace with God. They looked only to earthly peace and not peace with God.
A covenant of peace was made with God, surely there would be peace now.
Israel broke the covenant.
They were not at peace with God.
They went through kings, judges and prophets and yet the chaos continued in their hearts.
For so long they had sought out peace. They completely lost sight of what peace was or felt like, the garden was too far removed.
So they did what was right in their own eyes. Forging worldly peace with nations around them, fleeting peace based on temporal circumstances and fickle people. There was no true peace.
Satan was pleased that the world did not understand the importance of peace with God. They looked only to earthly peace and not peace with God.
Amongst the chaos of Roman rule, census and barn animals, cries of peace rang out through the night. Not from Israelites or Romans or priests. Cries of a baby boy that is himself peace. Cries from one who would talk with the Father in a garden. Who would care for the Father’s world. Who had no sin, no barriers, nothing separating him from God. This was Jesus.
Jesus’ followers didn’t understand this peace. Israelites expected their saviour to bring earthly peace then, in that place.
But Jesus didn’t come to bring temporal peace for the Israelites.
Jesus’ followers didn’t understand this peace. Israelites expected their saviour to bring earthly peace then, in that place.
But Jesus didn’t come to bring temporal peace for the Israelites.
Jesus came to bring peace between man and God
On Golgotha the tree that stood in the way was overcome by the tree that Jesus died on. The curtain that stood in the way between worshipers and the presence of God was ripped right in two. Torn wide open by the sacrifice Jesus made.
Now, there need not be anything in the way of man and God. By the blood of the Lamb, we can be clean, the sin washed away. Wrapped in the cloak of his purity, his innocence, nothing stands between the believer and God.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
The peace that Jesus gives is peace with the Father.
Peace with the Father moves deeper than just the cessation of sin between us. This peace is wonderfully more; it is being made whole again. It is is moving from death to life abundant. Because of Jesus we can walk with God, talk with him and participate in his kingdom work. We are heirs with Jesus.
Jesus is the way to true peace. There is no other way to the Father besides him.
On Golgotha the tree that stood in the way was overcome by the tree that Jesus died on. The curtain that stood in the way between worshipers and the presence of God was ripped right in two. Torn wide open by the sacrifice Jesus made.
Now, there need not be anything in the way of man and God. By the blood of the Lamb, we can be clean, the sin washed away. Wrapped in the cloak of his purity, his innocence, nothing stands between the believer and God.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
The peace that Jesus gives is peace with the Father.
Peace with the Father moves deeper than just the cessation of sin between us. This peace is wonderfully more; it is being made whole again. It is is moving from death to life abundant. Because of Jesus we can walk with God, talk with him and participate in his kingdom work. We are heirs with Jesus.
Jesus is the way to true peace. There is no other way to the Father besides him.
As we live in gratitude for the peace with God that we have, we still live amongst the continuing chaos and sin around us. We look forward to the time when all sin and brokenness will be done and silenced forever. We anticipate the day when the kingdom of “here and not yet” becomes the kingdom of “here and forever.”
We do not hang our heads in despair, for we know that God is not dead and does not sleep. The wrong will fail, Christ will prevail, with peace eternal.”
We do not hang our heads in despair, for we know that God is not dead and does not sleep. The wrong will fail, Christ will prevail, with peace eternal.”
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Awesome article. Yep, that's PEACE. Peace with God first everything else a byproduct.
nThanks for sharing the TRUTH.