In the opening chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth he makes this appeal. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Paul is right, if we really want peace we need to get on the same page. We need to find a unity of purpose and a common goal for all concerned. We find it so easy to judge others instead of listening to them. We are quick to join up with those who seem to think and act like us. Then we build “walls” to keep a safe distance from those whom we are hesitant to have beside us.
Now… it isn’t really our fault. Again and again, people stand up and promise to lead us to the land of peace. Sometimes these people with promises galore are royalty and we call them Kings and Queens. Others we call Presidents, Prime Ministers, Senators, Congressional Leaders, and Judges. Even people with religious titles make such promises. These people are more than happy to promise us peace if we will just let them be in charge. But when we accept their leadership, we risk losing more than we could imagine.
Paul notes that our only hope is in Jesus. If we place our hope and trust in anyone else, we will be disappointed. We will never find peace. Peace is available from nobody but Jesus. Jesus said it clearly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” True peace comes from being in relationship with God, which in turn leads us to be in proper relationship with this universe and all that dwell within it. God is with us when nobody else is. Pass it on.