The twentieth century was hailed by many as the beginning of a millennium of peace and prosperity, but this proved to be empty idealism. In WWI, believed to be the war to end all wars, 30 million people died. In a few decades the world was caught up in a second global conflict that claimed 90 million lives. In 1946 the United Nations was formed with the stated aim of having succeeding generations free from the scourge of war. Since that time there has not been one day of peace on the earth. Billy Graham once said that if someone was sent from Mars to report earth’s major business, he would in all fairness have to say that its chief industry was war. John MacArthur wryly describes peace as that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stops to reload. It is into this situation that Jesus speaks this seventh beatitude.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
It has well been said, “man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself. He is not at peace with himself because he is not at peace with God.” That is where the glory of the Christian gospel comes in. The death of Christ in the place of sinners has broken down not only the barriers between God and man but the barriers which divided men from each other. It is only when a sinner comes to the foot of the cross and bends the knee in humble submission that peace can flood their hearts. In Romans 5:1 Paul can confidently exclaim; therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. How then can we act as peacemakers in this world? Firstly, if people lack peace because of their own wicked hearts then surely the most important function of God’s Peace Corps is to get involved in the work of evangelism. This is what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Notice that Paul does not limit this responsibility to be Christ’s ambassadors to preachers only. We must all play our part. The second responsibility of God’s Peace Corps is to be a praying people. Hear the apostle Paul’s plea in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Are we a praying people? The third responsibility of God’s Peace Corps is more practical. In Philippians 4:2, 3 Paul writes, I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel. If you are out of fellowship with a fellow believer because of an argument the most natural thing in the world is to avoid them. If you see them walking down the street towards you, you will be inclined to cross the road to the other side and pretend not to have noticed them. You do not want to greet them. Avoid that temptation. Peacemakers want reconciliation. Peacemakers will go to people that they are at odds with and seek to resolve the issue. In fact, peacemakers will even go further than this. If they see two other Christian brethren who are out of sorts with one another and walking on opposite sides of the street they will grab each of them by one hand and seek to bring reconciliation. This is exactly what Paul encouraged the Philippian church to do.
FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD
In Ephesians 5:1 Paul urges us to be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. We are called upon to walk in the Lord’s footsteps. And those are footsteps of peace. In Philippians 4:9 and Romans 16:20 the Lord is referred to as the God of peace. If we are His sons, then we will be men and women of peace as well. In Hebrews 12:14 we are urged; make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Our responsibility is to make every effort to live at peace. We may be aware that we are out of fellowship with another believer. When we come walking down the street they cross over to the opposite side and pretend to have not seen us. We are to go to that person and lovingly address the issue. If the issue is resolved peace prevails and fellowship is restored. But if the other person refuses to respond to our approach and insists that nothing is wrong, what then? I find an important principle tucked away in Romans 12:18, if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. All you can do is be faithful to what God expects of you. You cannot be held responsible for the other person’s reaction. God holds you accountable for your actions.