For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things to himself, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Col.1.20)

The scope of Paul's words here defies the imagination ‑ "All things in earth and in heaven". So what is 'peace' and where was it lost? The Oxford Dictionary defines peace as "quiet tranquility ‑ mental calm ‑ serenity ‑ freedom from or cessation from war". But the word 'peace' in the Bible means much more, as does the eastern greeting of 'shalom'.

Peace was shattered on this planet when our first parents decided to disobey their Creator. That became demonstrable a little later when a brother killed his brother. After the flood there is archeological evidence to suggest that for a considerable period there was a peace among tribes and communities. But slowly the human race again lapsed into violence ‑ a condition of human society from which it seems impossible to escape ‑ violence begets violence. God gave mankind stewardship of Creation but human abuse of the planet continues to increase every day mainly because of selfishness. Until the human race is reconciled to its Creator the rest of Creation will remain in chaos. In spite of that, God's original purpose of a beautiful planet with peace and plenty is clearly seen and we can but stand in awe of the regenerative properties of God's handiwork.

But how is the restoration to be achieved? It begins in each of our hearts as it began in the heart of Abraham 4000 years ago. He believed that God could be trusted when he was told to leave his ancestral home and migrate to Canaan. His obedient trust gave him peace with God which was sealed by a covenant. Where once there had been rebellion there was reconciliation. But tribal warfare continued and grew into warfare between nations. Pruning hooks became spears and ploughshares became swords. Every man's hand was against his brother as in the beginning. How could it be reversed?

Israel did not enter into 'rest' as they should have done when they entered the 'Promised Land'. When twelve men reconnoitered the land the people of Israel lacked the faith of old father Abraham ‑ they chose rather to fight the inhabitants of the land, and then to adopt their 'religions'. It's a story of 'blood, toil, tears and sweat' which need never have been. Sadly, there is a similar story even after the Prince of Peace had come and hung on a cross. He showed a new and living way of peace, of reconciliation, of love. But some who claimed to be reconciled to God had not learned the way of love, and there came bitter strife and much persecution. Rockets and bombs do not demonstrate the love of God any more than swords and spears. But first there must be true reconciliation and peace with God. For Jesus the conquest of the cross was not in 'twelve legions of angels', but in total submission to God's will. That is the lesson which warring nations must learn ‑ and every child of God must learn it too.

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us." (2 Cor.5.17-19) An important principle here is that it is God who is reconciling the world, and Jesus showed that his father and ours is not a vengeful God needing to be appeased but a loving God who longs for his erring Creation to be reconciled to himself. This is the lesson in Jesus' story of a prodigal son. God decided that the only way that this could be done was for a demonstration of love to be shown to the world on a cross. The only way it can be shown today is in the submission and forgiving spirit of his people. All those who have the spirit of revenge in their eyes cannot possibly have come to know the living God and his wonderful son. Knowing them is the only way that the power of the Holy Spirit can transform our lives into their likeness. This requires obedient repentance daily. (1 John 1.9) This is not the laying again the foundation, repentance from dead works as rebuked in Hebrew 6.1. This is leaving the past behind and remaining in a 'broken and contrite' condition, with no sense of personal rights or retaliation. If we truly love and want God's will, then our own will must be broken. To quote Roy Hession in 'Calvary Road' "This simply means that the hard unyielding self which justifies itself, wants its own way, stands up for its rights and seeks its own glory, at last bows its head to God's will, admits its wrong, gives up its own way to Jesus."

After long millennia the Prince of Peace finally came to Earth. How did the angel message about "Peace on Earth, goodwill to men" work out in practice? What is the New Testament teaching about 'peace'? Jesus saw the religious activity of Jewish people gave them no peace. Yet the angels had told Israel that there would be peace on Earth with the birth of their Messiah. On one occasion at least Jesus called to the ordinary folk struggling in vain to keep 'the Law', "Come unto me all that labour and 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 you will find rest for your souls." (Matt.11.28‑30). Therein lies the secret of 'rest and 'peace' for which Israel had sought so long ‑ 'meek and lowly'. In his great 'sermon' he told the people that God's children were peace makers. When there was strife among the disciples about who was the greatest he admonished them to be at peace among themselves.

There was an occasion when Jesus said the most surprising thing. He said do not think that I have come to bring peace but a sword. He knew that there would inevitably be enmity between those who preached his message and those who would not receive it. If this occurred within a family then there would be conflict within that family. Sadly, misinterpretation of the Gospel has brought about civil strife within nations and war between nations, fighting mistakenly under the banner of Christ, from Constantine to this present day.

When Jesus was arrested, the only person who was at peace was Jesus himself. Through the dreadful hours of the trials and his agony on the cross he alone remained calm, until at last his work was done. Through his suffering our peace with God was possible for he brought reconciliation and new life.

In Ephesians, chapters 2, 3 and 4 Paul explained how this is possible for Gentiles. The privileged position of natural Israel which they inherited in God's promises to the patriarchs, has now been extended to us ‑ we have been brought within the covenant relationship and so there is "unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace". There is no place for strife within the Christian church. In Phil.4.7 Paul writes that "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Peace is described here as a fortress. Nothing this world, nothing that religious people can do or say, should disturb the calm serenity of peace in Jesus. In the work place, the family circle, among our friends and least of all within the Church can there be any loss of that peace guarding our hearts and minds. That is the ideal, the goal, and when it is really experienced there is joy and strength to face the outward turmoil and crises. Then Paul's words to the brethren at Colossae find fulfilment in our lives, and peace becomes an 'umpire' ‑ "Let the peace of Christ rule

DN