We live in an age of war.  Just recently we all experienced and felt the closeness of war when our country was involved in fighting with Iraq.  This was a terrible war, full of death and destruction.  But even though this war is over, yet there are countless other wars raging throughout the world.  We may experience some sense of peace here in this country, but in many other lands, war has been continuous since the end of the Second World War.

In this atmosphere of war, and especially during the time our country was at war with Iraq, what was the cry and call of the church world?  Everywhere we saw signs and banners asking us to “Pray for Peace,” and when the war was over, “Thank God for Peace.”  We are therefore led to believe that “peace” has been attained.  In all this we are somewhat surprised at how openly men acknowledge that we need to pray to God for peace, and that we need to thank Him for it, but alas, the world is deceived into thinking they have “peace when there is no peace.”

Maybe someone will object when we say this and will respond “Why isn’t this peace?  Surely an end to war is peace?”  Sadly, this is the way that much of the church world today views peace.  An earthly peace is sought after.  They think that as long as there is no fighting and war then all is well and good.  God’s Word instructs us, however, that this is not peace.  There is only one sort of peace in this world, only one source of true peace to man, and that is when he is at peace with God.  This is not an earthly peace, but a heavenly.  It is only when man is at peace with God that he is able to have peace with his neighbor, and therefore to have peace from war.  We need therefore to carefully consider what this peace is that we have with God, and also to know how we attain this peace.

In Jeremiah 6:13-14, we are shown what the false peace is.  The situation is this.  Old and young, rich and poor, and those of all ranks and professions, are all seeking the treasures and pleasures of this world.  And what is being done about it?  Nothing.  The prophets and priests, those who teach and instruct the people, are simply telling the people that all is fine, nothing is wrong.  They are saying that there is peace.  Is not this the same today?  Everyone – and the reality is that this includes those in the church too – is seeking the pleasures of this life and of this world.  They are after a good time and wish to have lots of fun.  And that too is the peace which men seek, the false peace.  If there is war and strife then men are unable to lay back and enjoy life, but they are faced with the reality of struggle, fighting and death.  This is a hindrance to enjoying this life’s pleasures, so therefore men “pray for peace.”  The world does not, as the Christian should, pray for a peaceable life so that he can serve God in it, but men want peace so that they can fulfill their own selfish desires.  We, as God’s people, are also guilt of this if we likewise become involved in the things of this world and neglect the things of God.

We are also shown what the true peace is, the peace that we should seek after and pray for.  God tells us in Jeremiah 6:16 that we must look for and ask concerning the old paths, and we must walk in them, and then we will find rest for our souls.  But what are these old paths?  Do we simply have to do as our fathers have done and all will be well?  Is it just a matter of observing the experiences of those that went before us?  No!  In seeking the old paths we do have to look to what happened in the former age, but we are to look, not to the deeds of men, but to God’s dealings with His people in times past.  Further instruction in this is given in Job 8:8, where we read, “For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers.”  We are also told this in Deuteronomy 32:7.  In these passages we are commanded to look for and follow the old paths, the paths prescribed by God’s law.  We are to see how those who have gone before us have been blessed as they have walked in God’s ways, and also how they have been punished for disobedience.  Most importantly, we are to look to the Bible, for the Bible most clearly sets before us what we must do, and what we must not do.  The old path is the way of godliness, the way that God’s saints in all ages have walked in.  By walking in these old paths we will find the true peace, and inner and spiritual peace within our soul, peace with God, and peace with our fellow man.

This, therefore, is the peace which we must seek after.  If the old paths are preached and taught, and if we walk therein, then we can have true peace, a peace that is within and that gives us comfort and security, in spite of the wars that may rage around us.  We must pray for this peace and not for the earthly peace from war, for that peace is not peace at all.  The true inner peace is a gift from God, and something to be sought after, and something that is a great blessing that we have as God’s people.  May we diligently seek this peace.