Kingdom of Peace

It was not God’s original plan for people to fight one another and have war. In the beginning He placed them in the beautiful garden where all was peaceful, and they lived in sweet communion with God. However it was not long until the tempter slipped in and presented the choice which caused man to fall into sin. That beautiful peace they shared with their heavenly Father was forever shattered and broken. Consequently, Adam and Eve were driven from the garden and sin had dominion over them. Because of their sin, unrest and wars have continued throughout time.

Considering the current world affairs, we are once again reminded that we live in a world of unrest. History continues to repeat itself; men clamber for power resulting in death and destruction. Throughout time, wars have claimed the lives of many people, including innocent children, and the current time in which we live is no exception. Observing the political world climate reminds me of the verse which says, “Peace, peace when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14

Never in all of history has war and unrest been brought to the worldwide stage like the current age. People are exposed to war and violence through social media and news channels in almost “real time.” Those who follow current affairs can become emotionally engaged, who have nothing personal to do with what is happening. Often it is difficult to have a clear picture of what facts are because untruth is presented together with the truth. Enemies use social media and news channels as a way to wage war; hoping to influence public opinion to their side of the conflict. Despite the seeming endless confusion and chaos, people still long for peace in their hearts, homes, and countries. They long for the same peace Adam and Eve experienced in the garden of Eden.

In a literal sense, man cannot experience or go back to the garden of Eden and live in harmony with God. However, in a spiritual sense we can. When God sets our spirit free from the bondage of sin, that peace which our first parents experienced before they fell, can be experienced in a spiritual relationship with God. When God forgives our sins and we walk in newness of life, we will find that peaceful communion with God no matter what our circumstances may be. Experiencing this spiritual peace, is a foretaste of the heavenly peace we will experience in heaven with our Lord. Heaven will be perfect peace; no pain, no sorrow, no wars and fighting. Those things will all be left behind in this old sinful world.

Think briefly about the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Read Genesis 3. What must it have felt like to eat the forbidden fruit and have been driven out of the beautiful garden? Imagine the shame and regret they felt when the Lord came calling for them in the cool of the day. See Genesis 3:8. Already the deception was at work. With their innocence lost, sin caused them to justify their actions. The woman blamed the serpent, and the man blamed the woman; already there was strife.

Sometimes people who have almost died, have an “out of the body” experience and go somewhere to a place full of light, peace, and love. Many testify that despite leaving loved ones behind, they did not want to return back to their earthly body. Instead, they preferred to stay in that place of perfect peace and rest. Now I imagine living in the garden of Eden must have been a similar feeling to that. Adam and Eve’s personal communion and oneness with God must have been beyond comprehension. In contrast, the remorse they experienced due to the choice they made, must have almost been more than they could bear. However, from their place in history, they could hardly have imagined the impact that simple choice would have on the ages to come. For, since that sinful choice, men everywhere continue to experience suffering.

As I already stated, we were not meant to fight and have wars. God has made humans to thrive in the environment of peace. Even our emotional makeup is designed to need peace. Without peace, our minds and emotions do not rest, resulting in poor mental health. The lack of inner peace can bring undue stress and anxiety. God has not made our minds to carry a load of unrest.  Isaiah 26:3.

The nature of the earthly man without the love of God in his heart is to fight for his personal rights. Therefore, no matter how many peace talks, and negotiations of peace are done in the world, they will never bring perfect everlasting peace. If that were possible, we would want to stay here on the earth. On the contrary, when a man or woman, becomes a child of God, His nature changes to that of a peace maker. He takes on the nature of Jesus Christ, which is a spiritual kingdom of peace and love for all men. A measure of that peace can be experienced by God’s faithful while on this earth. The peace they have from a surrender to Him, is but a foretaste of eternal peace to come. Wars and unrest make us long for that eternal, everlasting peace. John 16:33, John 14:27

A Christian does not entangle himself in the things of this world. He is deeply acquainted with his propensity to sin. He knows that true lasting peace comes in a heart fully surrendered to God. Like his Savior, he does not fight for his rights, but submits all judgment to his Heavenly Father. He does not allow anyone, including earthly governments, to force him to do anything that his Father in Heaven would not allow him to do. In other words, he would rather suffer bodily harm, than to lift his hand against his enemies or those who use him wrongfully. See 1 Corinthians 6:7. He believes that God is the judge of all, and as Jesus loved His enemies, so he must follow his example. Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

When Christ came, He ushered in a spiritual kingdom of peace, which is different from the former where God’s people waged war on their enemies. Christs kingdom is a spiritual kingdom of peace, which was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ Himself. He could have fought for His rights so as not to be crucified, but He chose to let men persecute and kill Him, rather than fight. Matthew 26:51

It was the love of God for all men that presented the gift of a spiritual kingdom to him, rather than an earthly one. See John 3:16. Had God chosen an earthly kingdom, it would have been limited to those who heard about it and were able to travel there to become part of it. That is purely earthly thinking of course. However, in the present spiritual kingdom of peace, Jesus’s love can be experienced anywhere, anytime, by anyone. It truly is amazing. God’s grace is available from everlasting to everlasting, for every race and kind. It can enter the hearts of men in any earthly kingdom, bringing peace, love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

This peace cannot be taught and learned but must be received and experienced in the heart. The Christians love for his Lord, supersedes any earthly kingdom or government. He will not let and earthly government dictate what he feels to be morally wrong. He will not allow them to choose for him, what Christ has forbidden. He will sacrifice his life, rather than betray his Lord and Savior.

The Christian is not opposed to earthly government. He obeys them, giving them all honor and due respect, whether or not they are a good government, as long as they do not violate his relationship with his Lord. He prays for the leaders and does what he can to support his country. In fact, he has a greater responsibility to respect and obey them in areas that do not conflict with the teachings of the Word of God. Although Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, He taught His followers to give to the earthly governments their dues and pay their taxes. See Romans 13:6-7. Therefore, as Christians we are called to respect our earthly governments and obey them so long as it does not violate our relationship with our Lord and the Kingdom of Peace. Luke 21:12

Although we do not read a direct command of Jesus to not fight and go to war, the same is implied in many of His teachings. He never spoke of retaliation, but rather of being a peacemaker. See Matthew 5. Blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is the kingdom.

Jesus did not condemn those who were serving in the Roman military during His time on earth, but neither did He condone it. When he referenced the military men and government, it was in the way of peace, not with any encouragement to wage war. The act of waging war is contrary to the nature of Christ and the example He left us.

Let’s say that in the New Testament Jesus would have taught that it was acceptable for His children to go to war and fight for the cause of their earthly country. In this scenario, there would be Christian men from different countries fighting and killing each other. Men who would at any other time, call each other brethren in Christ, and take communion together. I cannot imagine how this could fit into the love of Jesus and the Christian’s love for his brethren and fellowmen. How could those that claim to be followers of Christ go to war, and kill each other for an earthly cause, no matter if it seems legitimate? Does the Lord need us mortal creatures to help Him, who is all powerful, to fight and kill for the cause of truth? Which side of the conflict would Jesus be on? In that case, would those who fought on the opposite side of where Jesus was, still be Christians? I know these are just hypothetical thoughts, yet they are worthy of consideration.

When we study the teachings of Jesus, and His nature, we can clearly see war and fighting do not fit in the context of Christ’s kingdom of peace. Christ’s Kingdom and the kingdom of the world have entirely different values and are not compatible with each other. For this reason, God says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”2 Corinthians 6:17 See verses 14-18 as well.

Now consider who Jesus is, who He came for, and who He came to save. He is called the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world. Isaiah prophesied that He would not seek earthly fame, and that His personage would not be striking. He also refers to Him being led to slaughter as a meek and gentle sheep. See Isaiah 53. When the chief priests came to take Him in the garden of Gethsemane, His disciples used a sword to try to defend Him. He told them to put it away and promptly healed the man’s ear which had been cut off. Furthermore, He told them that they that use the sword, will also be killed by it. See Matthew 26:52. Jesus taught His followers that His was a spiritual kingdom not an earthly one. John 18:36. He also told them that they would suffer persecution, and He prayed to the Father in heaven that their faith would remain and that they would be kept in God’s care. In His prayer to His Heavenly Father, He extended that request to all those throughout time who would seek the Father’s will. See John 17.

Finally, when a person confesses his sin, repents, and is filled with the Holy Spirit, the natural result is that he has love for all men. This is by default, a pure gift from the Father, the true identity of Himself born in His children. This is our current evidence of the true nature of Jesus Christ. See John 13:35.

God is faithful and will receive anyone who calls on His name from an honest sincere heart. He is not interested that anyone be lost. His grace is available even on the battlefield. When a man, woman, or child calls upon His name, whatever the circumstances, He is right there ready to save them. Then like He called the apostles on the Sea of Galilee; He calls them to come and follow Him.  See Luke 9:23.

May the Lord give us a deeper understanding of the Kingdom of Peace.