I’ve been to war.

Not a figurative war, which many people have experienced within their unique circumstance, but a real war where bullets fly both ways and mortars and rockets explode with the intent of ending lives.  My war experience, of course, is no longer unusual as the United States continues adding to the longest period of conflict in our history.  I understand the damage a war can do.

Private, figurative wars, the ones without bullets, have been raging for centuries and are just as spiritually damaging as the real wars are physically damaging.  Spiritual wars are waged in our minds as we deal with the loss of loved ones, the breaking of a heart through shattered marriages, the breaking of promises and vows, the loss of stability financial or emotional.  The lists go on and undoubtedly will touch everyone who will read this paragraph.  The private wars have touched my family and me through suicide, cancer, divorce, death…

With all of the literal and figurative wars we wage every day it’s no wonder we’ve lost understanding of the Biblical concept of peace.  We shallowly wish for a peace where all hostilities cease OR we will settle for a selfish peace where we feel good…we have an inner comfort regardless of outside circumstances.  Neither understanding fully appreciates the peace God intended for us the beginning.  What did God intend?

God created the world and us for Himself.  He didn’t have to, but he did.  Why he did would be speculation (how can I even start to speculate on God’s plan?!?).  As part of creation man, woman, and all of creation were created and God declared it very good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”….God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:26-31 (NIV)

We can vaguely imagine the earth when everything was as it was meant to be.  When God in a wonderful manifestation of his will personally walked through his garden and talked directly to his creation (Gen 3:8).  If only we could have the peace received from personal attention and care from God!  That would be peace.

The Hebrew word for peace is Shalowm and literally translated brings a much deeper and richer meaning than peace as we know or wish for it.  Shalowm is a peace where everything is as it should be, specifically with God. It is a state where we are brought into (or back into) the original way God intended.   Think of God’s relationship with his creation in the garden when he provided direct care and comfort, everything was perfect and you only begin to understand Shalowm.

Later God grants this peace (shalowm) to his chosen people Israel through his presence and care illustrated through the blessing he gave them through Aaron and his priestly family:

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace [shalowm].  Numbers 6:22-27(NIV)

Sadly, because they did not remain faithful to His covenant, God turned his face away from them effectively removing his shalowm from his once chosen people. (Hebrews 8:9). But through Christ God established a new covenant:

But God found fault with the people and said:

“The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah….

I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people. Hebrews 8

Did you catch the familiar imagery from the garden?  “I will be their God,and they will be my people.”  This blessing of peace, once only available through the law to the Israelites, is available today to everyone through Christ the highest priest.  Christ brings us into state of purity allowing us to:

…not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace [Greek: eirênê Hebrew: shalowm] of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

You may be thinking, “But you don’t know what I’ve been through, how can I really have that peace.”  Fair question, I’ve thought the same thing many times, and still do.  That’s part of our human limitations.  Part of my American limitation makes it even more difficult to realize the peace because I was raised in a culture that glorifies self-achivement and toughness.   So my answer to your (and my) thought is this,  first acknowledge the only way to peace (that is to have a relationship with God in the way He intended) is through Jesus Christ and put all your trust into Him.  Second, quit trying to do it the American way by working harder to make it, you won’t.  As the ancient writer of Proverbs put it:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Shalowm