“Peace, Peace! When There Is No Peace.”
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
Most people on earth desire peace. They innately crave safety, happiness and a good life simply because there is so little of it to be found today. The fulfillment of that craving goes increasingly untouched for lack of those who truly love God’s law. So, it becomes a vicious cycle of unfulfilled desire. The more that God and His law of love is rejected, the greater the need and desire for the lasting peace that can only come through God.
The history of Israel is the cast our modern culture is set in. Jeremiah wrote, “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely” (Jeremiah 6:13). All sectors of society – leadership, citizens, prophets and priests – were willing to live deceitfully, apart from God’s law.
Those who were responsible to speak God’s truth did not do so. “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). The false prophets and priests only healed the people’s spiritual wounds in a slight or false manner, reassuring everyone that they were fine as they were. When, in reality, they should have warned them of impending judgment and the urgent need of repentance.
“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, they shall be cast down,” says the Lord” (Jeremiah 6:15). On top of it all, they weren’t ashamed of their false leadership and the curses that would come upon those who bought into their soft words. Their fall was assured.
It is no different today, is it? We are presently in a brief period of respite in a desperately failing country – one that has little love of God’s law. We are promised greatness and a return to peace and safety – good words, likely with good intentions. But there is no proclamation to repent and turn back to God. It is only a slight healing.
Concerning the time of the end the Apostle Paul gave an urgent warning: “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3). This is what we know for sure.
Those who love God’s law and have His peace internally, also comprehend what Paul went on to say. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6). If we are watchful and serious regarding our spiritual condition with God’s spiritual law as our standard, nothing will cause us to stumble.
Marshall Stiver
