Peace is something that we all desire, seek and want. During the Christmas season, one of the tag lines of the holiday is “let there be peace on earth.” But regardless of how hard the governments of man and individuals work for peace — it is elusive. Why is that?
One of the reasons peace is so elusive is the way power is used and where it is focused. In general, there are two approaches to the use of power. One use of power leads to strife, conflict, and war while the other leads to peace. Isaiah tells us that there was a being, Heylel, which had a place covering the throne of God. This being rebelled and when he did, he set in motion a corrupted use of power that permeates all of man’s societies, institutions, and governments throughout history up to today. Specifically, Heylel used his power in an attempt to elevate himself above the control God (Isa 14:12-14). This same being’s name, who we know more generally as Lucifer, was changed to Satan. He is continually broadcasting this attitude and desire to use power to control others today (Ephesians 2:2).
Using power in an attempt to control others creates an environment where peace simply cannot exist. When power is used to control someone else, the very act of using power in that manner sows the seeds of conflict and war – regardless if the “someone else” is an individual, an institution, or nation. Why?
Peace in human terms refers to the cessation of conflict or the absence of war. To stop a conflict or war, one party to the conflict has to be in a position to enforce the terms of peace on the other. When the weaker is subject to the control of the more powerful, the desire of the weaker is to grow stronger in an attempt to not be controlled. This sets in motion a vicious cycle of war and conflict that is for all intents and purposes impossible to stop. That is why history is most often defined by war and conflict. There is, however, another way.
When we are called into a relationship with God the Father (John 6:44) and repent, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit is provided to us so that we have power to exercise control over ourselves and build the character and nature of our Father and Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5-6, 2 Peter 1:2-7). The power of the Holy Spirit, however, is never used to control another.
When we focus the power we are given through the Holy Spirit on ourselves, to grow in grace and knowledge, we develop the nature of our Father. As His nature is developed in us, peace flourishes in our life because peace is a fruit of His way of life:
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. . . . 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:16-17,19-24).
If every human being focused on controlling themselves through the power of the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of His way of life, there would be no place for conflict and war. As a result, peace would flourish throughout all levels of society. If we truly desire peace, maybe we should consider how we use power and where it is focused.
Staff