There is a running joke about life goals. It is a favorite in movies about beauty contests. When questioned about life’s greatest goals the answer is always “world peace.” It is funny, because it is impossible. It is a lofty goal that can never be reached.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27 (ESV)
We long for peace. We want peace in both our tumultuous hearts and in our world filled with violent conflict. We seek peace with God and we desperately want inner peace. We want to be at peace with our neighbors, and the rest of the world. We want the rest of the world to stop fighting. We long to have a better quality of life. Ironically, the United States and Western world is a place of great peace and safety compared to people in many other places, and people from previous centuries. Why don’t we feel at peace? We spend most of our time chasing the earthly answers to human flourishing. We are looking for answers and coming up with secular solutions. They help some, but fall desperately short. Even though we gain more money, knowledge, health, and possessions, we are failing to gain love, joy, and peace. These things have their source in the Spirit.
So, how do we realize the peace of the Holy Spirit? First, we must have the Holy Spirit. He indwells those who have come to saving faith. One must be at peace with God. This is the beginning of all other peace. It comes about from believing in Jesus and His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. Believing means repenting of our sin and self-centeredness. It means throwing yourself on His mercy. When this happens, we are transformed in our relationship with God, but, also, we get a heart transformation. We are made new. The Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us. When we yield to Him, fruit begins to form. It forms in our hearts as love, peace, and joy. It also forms in us in the way we behave. We become more patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. World peace starts with my peace being God’s peace.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
Seeking a vibrant life submitted to the power of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing endeavor. We must daily turn to Him with soft, malleable hearts. We must seek the things of God. We must begin with intention. We must continue through His power.
What about the world? Will it ever be at peace? Many hearts must be transformed for world peace to become a reality. There is a limit to dialogue, sanctions, and concessions. Humans have a heart problem. We cannot control this, but we can pray, be agents of peace, and stand for goodness.
Lord,
I present myself to You. Fill my heat with the Spirit. Help me to stop holding to my own will and importance. Bend my will to follow You and be transformed into Your image.
Amen