Is Peace Obtainable?

On The Damascus Road
Is Peace Obtainable?

Peace     There is in the soul of man the desire to be at peace. Peace with himself, peace with his neighbors and peace with God; to know tranquility.
    Peace comes in a variety of definitions, depending mainly on who, where, and when one is inquiring on the subject. To the man embroiled in the conflicts of a war-time condition, peace is a cessation of hostilities and a return to his home. To the man or woman caught in the middle of a love triangle, peace is having one or both of the opposing corners to find another love and leaving you alone. To the woman whose life is tangled in a web fashioned from career, children, parents, and husband conflicts, peace is when the parents retire to Florida and the children marry. The woman is at peace when she is balancing a career and husband. To the driver in the middle of a traffic tie-up, peace is being home. To the person lost in the abyss of moral degradation, peace is in Jesus Christ.
    Most non-peace conditions are not webs personally formed, but formed by others which ensnare or trap the one looking for peace. The web can be intentionally formed so as to get total control over you or it can be a lot more subtlety built without intention. It just comes about through everyday need or reliance upon you. Before long there you are caught in another web and the tranquility you seek recedes a bit further into the abyss.
    When all else fails and it's either scream, go mad, or take to some sort of dependency stimulant, there is still another avenue to that elusive peace. His name is Jesus Christ. I know, I know I've heard it all before. "Here we go again, always the easy answer. It seems that is all these religious characters can say, `Take Jesus. Try Jesus. Give Jesus a chance.' Well thanks, but no thanks!" But I've got news for you—it isn't that easy.
    Jesus beckons us when he says, Matthew 11:28-30 "Come onto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls." The problem is that it is going to cost you, that is, it's going to cost you very dearly. You may lose close friends over the move to Jesus. It could even cost you your job.
    Seeing as how you have never taken the plunge and allowed Jesus to have full reign in your life, it is impossible to explain to you how little those things really are in comparison to the overwhelming peace and tranquillity that flows into your life. But I must warn you to consider the ramifications of your actions. Jesus said, John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Be prepared to receive Jesus with the full knowledge that once He comes into your life at your request, He is always there.
    Praise Jesus that He is always there. For when burdens become too heavy for you, He will lift them from you and bear you and your burdens over the troubled waters. The old gospel song reads, "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there." This is not just a song that is sung to make you feel good, it is a way of living. It is a continuing walk where you learn to trust the Lord to do exactly what He said he would do. Notice the next three words though, "...leave them there." You must learn to do just that and not keep picking them up every chance you get. It is a song that bears witness to the words of Jesus quoted above, Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
    In Jesus, or better still, with Jesus on the throne in your life you will find answers that have always been there but you were blind-sided by the lack of His guidance. When someone is trying to corner you into his or her little control area, you will get a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit showing you the trap you are allowing to be built around you. When you receive a warning that you had better beware of the situation you are heading for, stop, look, and listen closely for a reliance trap. We can depend so definitely on that quiet voice of the Holy Spirit communing with our own spirit that we can live our lives totally on His direction. Remember, In the verse quoted above, Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and LEARN of me."
    You won't do that right from the beginning but as time goes by and your learning experience lengthens you will catch yourself saying, "I knew I shouldn't have done this," or, "I was so sure it would be wrong for me to allow them to use me like that. I'll know better in the future that the Lord is trying to help me. I'll try harder to listen for His direction." I can say, "believe me it will happen," but why should you? You shouldn't—you should take Jesus into your heart and trust Him to live up to His word. I'm a man, and men are naturally liars, but God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit are the Triune Deity and DO NOT LIE. In this world where man, money, and material things are fleeting and unfaithful, there is One Sure and Faithful Friend, Jesus.

In the Garden

RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER READING:
These Bible References
2 Thessalonians 3:16 ; Phillippians 4:7 ; Ephesians 6:15 ; Ephesians 2:13-14
Galatians 5:22 ; 2 Corinthians 13:11 ;

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	Peace There is in the soul of man the desire to be at peace. Peace with himself, peace with his neighbors and peace with God; to know tranquility. Peace comes in a variety of definitions, depending mainly on who, where, and when one is inquiring on the subject. To the man embroiled in the conflicts of a war-time condition, peace is a cessation of hostilities and a return to his home. To the man or woman caught in the middle of a love triangle, peace is having one or both of the opposing corners to find another love and leaving you alone. To the woman whose life is tangled in a web fashioned from career, children, parents, and husband conflicts, peace is when the parents retire to Florida and the children marry. The woman is at peace when she is balancing a career and husband. To the driver in the middle of a traffic tie-up, peace is being home. To the person lost in the abyss of moral degradation, peace is in Jesus Christ. Most non-peace conditions are not webs personally formed, but formed by others which ensnare or trap the one looking for peace. The web can be intentionally formed so as to get total control over you or it can be a lot more subtlety built without intention. It just comes about through everyday need or reliance upon you. Before long there you are caught in another web and the tranquility you seek recedes a bit further into the abyss. When all else fails and it's either scream, go mad, or take to some sort of dependency stimulant, there is still another avenue to that elusive peace. His name is Jesus Christ. I know, I know I've heard it all before. "Here we go again, always the easy answer. It seems that is all these religious characters can say, `Take Jesus. Try Jesus. Give Jesus a chance.' Well thanks, but no thanks!" But I've got news for you—it isn't that easy. Jesus beckons us when he says, Matthew 11:28-30 "Come onto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls." The problem is that it is going to cost you, that is, it's going to cost you very dearly. You may lose close friends over the move to Jesus. It could even cost you your job. Seeing as how you have never taken the plunge and allowed Jesus to have full reign in your life, it is impossible to explain to you how little those things really are in comparison to the overwhelming peace and tranquillity that flows into your life. But I must warn you to consider the ramifications of your actions. Jesus said, John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Be prepared to receive Jesus with the full knowledge that once He comes into your life at your request, He is always there. Praise Jesus that He is always there. For when burdens become too heavy for you, He will lift them from you and bear you and your burdens over the troubled waters. The old gospel song reads, "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there." This is not just a song that is sung to make you feel good, it is a way of living. It is a continuing walk where you learn to trust the Lord to do exactly what He said he would do. Notice the next three words though, "...leave them there." You must learn to do just that and not keep picking them up every chance you get. It is a song that bears witness to the words of Jesus quoted above, Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Jesus, or better still, with Jesus on the throne in your life you will find answers that have always been there but you were blind-sided by the lack of His guidance. When someone is trying to corner you into his or her little control area, you will get a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit showing you the trap you are allowing to be built around you. When you receive a warning that you had better beware of the situation you are heading for, stop, look, and listen closely for a reliance trap. We can depend so definitely on that quiet voice of the Holy Spirit communing with our own spirit that we can live our lives totally on His direction. Remember, In the verse quoted above, Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and LEARN of me." You won't do that right from the beginning but as time goes by and your learning experience lengthens you will catch yourself saying, "I knew I shouldn't have done this," or, "I was so sure it would be wrong for me to allow them to use me like that. I'll know better in the future that the Lord is trying to help me. I'll try harder to listen for His direction." I can say, "believe me it will happen," but why should you? You shouldn't—you should take Jesus into your heart and trust Him to live up to His word. I'm a man, and men are naturally liars, but God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit are the Triune Deity and DO NOT LIE. In this world where man, money, and material things are fleeting and unfaithful, there is One Sure and Faithful Friend, Jesus.

In the Garden