PEACE IS ALWAYS THE PRIZE
It was not surprising that the media have been abuzz with the news of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. Some had called for him to refuse it. Others had rejoiced that he had been considered worthy. In the end he decided to accept it. We have also seen Hilary Clinton going to Northern Ireland to encourage the two parties there to agree about the devolving of police powers, and so to further the settlement of the political arrangements that will ensure a lasting peace in that troubled province.
Alongside these events on Friday the United Nations Human Rights Council backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. There has been a huge diplomatic row about the report. In many ways this is an antidote to any over-optimistic hope for peace that might have been building up as President Obama has sought to bring the two sides together.
What we see in these three different events is the earnest endeavours that go on throughout the world to secure peace. Presidents and senior politicians work constantly to try to resolve differences between opposing forces.
Peace is a precious commodity. But it is also an elusive one. Whatever the United Nations seeks to do and say, wars continue, new wars start, and there is constant tension and threatening between nations. On top of that the threat of terrorism hangs over everyone’ heads. Despite so much bloodshed in the last century (it was the most violent in human history) political leaders do not change and they turn to war to resolve major problems with other nations. Sometimes there may be no option, but war and the destruction of peace are curses that plague our world unremittingly. At the same time the fanaticism of extremists promotes and culminates in violence.
The salutary words of Jesus Christ ring true, “ will be wars and rumours of wars”1. The complexities of the world we live in, the sad histories of distrust and hatred and the vast divergence of ideas and cultures all ensure that peace remains a distant hope as far as nations are concerned.
Of course, the absence of peace is not just an international problem - it is a personal one as well. In many families there is the absence of peace between husbands and wives, parents and children, and with other members of the family. Neighbours fall out and quarrel. In workplaces there are tensions, friction and conflicts between people. These are things we accept as a part of life.
Then in our own minds and hearts there is an absence of peace. Worries and anxieties about family members, our health, finances and work can cause us to be disturbed and agitated. And sometimes those worries and anxieties can become very destructive to our mental health so that we need professional help. But we all also know the problem of a troubled conscience with the regrets and distress of past events and words that disturb and trouble us. What we would not give for peace of mind and heart?
It was to secure that for us that Jesus came. He brings peace to troubled souls. He called to men in His own day and to us through the words recorded in the New Testament when he said, “ to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”2 When He spoke about rest He was talking about peace of mind and heart - a clear conscience because we know all our sins and failures are forgiven. That was what He died to obtain: To bring peace with God for all those who will trust in Him. We have troubled consciences because we are not right with God. That is what we most need.
And when we know peace with God and we know the transforming power of His love in our lives, then we also find that He relieves those anxieties and distresses that arise in our lives. We are able to “ our cares upon Him”3 and bring our troubles to Him knowing that he will help us. This is not some form of delusion or escapism but the truth of God’ promises to us and the real experience of multitudes of Christians. And one day even the absence of peace will be removed in our world when the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ) will come again.
Peace is a great prize and Jesus has obtained it for all who will receive it from Him.
1 Matthew 24:6
2 Matthew 11:28
3 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6-7