Peace for our times
Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich in September 1938 with an agreement in his hand waving a document to a worried and frightened nation, saying, “Peace for our Time.”
A year later in 1939, war was declared; the start of the Second World War. Churchill’s response to any negotiations with Hitler was, “You can not reason with a tiger, when your head is in its mouth.”
Hitler was a type of antichrist; he was not the antichrist but a type. When we look at Hitler recorded in history, it tells of a terrible genocide of the Jewish people and a world war, killing and maiming millions of people around the world and leaving many countries having to rebuild after heavy bombing.
Any reasonable person wants peace in their land and peace with their neighbour that they may enjoy peace in their time.
The only real peace for our time that we can really enjoy is having the Prince of Peace: the Prince of Peace living in our lives,
Jesus said:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Peace came at a price. It did not come cheaply, but was won by an act of great love: the Son of Man laying down His life that we may live. He paid the price for sin by shedding His blood, that we would no longer be in enmity with God, but have peace with God in our time. This declaration of peace is for all people.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
The only hope we have in peace is found in Christ alone.
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.‘" Ephesians 2:12–19
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
The Lord Jesus Christ wins people to Him through a covenant of peace, a promise of peace, an everlasting covenant to those who confess Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
His messengers of peace endeavour to walk and proclaim peace just as the One who sends them.
"’Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." John 20:21
"Those who declare the good news of salvation and of peace are to go with their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15).
"They are to take the Sword, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
This sword cuts through darkness and separates good from evil, and light from darkness.
If you are not saved, this is the day of salvation, and for you also to receive the freedom and peace that is only found in Christ.
Jesus commanded His disciples and those who choose to follow Him to love as He loved: a sacrificial love - not just words, but deeds.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5–8
The Word became flesh, Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
The Lord’s execution took place outside the walls of Jerusalem, at Golgotha. To be crucified is a painful and very cruel way of death. Jesus showed a love that the world had never seen before: He became a scapegoat, He took on the sin of the world, and became the lamb of God without sin. The Son of Man and Son of God took the place of the guilty. The world had never seen such love and would never see such great love again.
After His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ walked into Jerusalem, the city of peace, bringing with Him a covenant of peace and freedom for all to sign up to. Do you too want to be recorded in the book of life?
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11
Salvation came at a price. Real peace comes at a price. What will it cost you? Are you prepared to pay the price for peace in your life? Jesus said,
“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth him that sent Me.” Matthew 10:32–40
The terms and conditions of peace:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
It will be written in your heart and confessed from the mouth:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10
Peace and freedom in Christ, is the only peace and liberty for our times.
Amen
A year later in 1939, war was declared; the start of the Second World War. Churchill’s response to any negotiations with Hitler was, “You can not reason with a tiger, when your head is in its mouth.”
Hitler was a type of antichrist; he was not the antichrist but a type. When we look at Hitler recorded in history, it tells of a terrible genocide of the Jewish people and a world war, killing and maiming millions of people around the world and leaving many countries having to rebuild after heavy bombing.
Any reasonable person wants peace in their land and peace with their neighbour that they may enjoy peace in their time.
The only real peace for our time that we can really enjoy is having the Prince of Peace: the Prince of Peace living in our lives,
Jesus said:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Peace came at a price. It did not come cheaply, but was won by an act of great love: the Son of Man laying down His life that we may live. He paid the price for sin by shedding His blood, that we would no longer be in enmity with God, but have peace with God in our time. This declaration of peace is for all people.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
The only hope we have in peace is found in Christ alone.
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.‘" Ephesians 2:12–19
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
The Lord Jesus Christ wins people to Him through a covenant of peace, a promise of peace, an everlasting covenant to those who confess Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
His messengers of peace endeavour to walk and proclaim peace just as the One who sends them.
"’Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." John 20:21
"Those who declare the good news of salvation and of peace are to go with their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15).
"They are to take the Sword, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
This sword cuts through darkness and separates good from evil, and light from darkness.
If you are not saved, this is the day of salvation, and for you also to receive the freedom and peace that is only found in Christ.
Jesus commanded His disciples and those who choose to follow Him to love as He loved: a sacrificial love - not just words, but deeds.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5–8
The Word became flesh, Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
The Lord’s execution took place outside the walls of Jerusalem, at Golgotha. To be crucified is a painful and very cruel way of death. Jesus showed a love that the world had never seen before: He became a scapegoat, He took on the sin of the world, and became the lamb of God without sin. The Son of Man and Son of God took the place of the guilty. The world had never seen such love and would never see such great love again.
After His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ walked into Jerusalem, the city of peace, bringing with Him a covenant of peace and freedom for all to sign up to. Do you too want to be recorded in the book of life?
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11
Salvation came at a price. Real peace comes at a price. What will it cost you? Are you prepared to pay the price for peace in your life? Jesus said,
“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth him that sent Me.” Matthew 10:32–40
The terms and conditions of peace:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
It will be written in your heart and confessed from the mouth:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10
Peace and freedom in Christ, is the only peace and liberty for our times.
Amen