When I was growing up, there were only three “good” channels on the television. This meant we watched whatever was on, which often resulted in watching programs that, had we more options, we would have never chosen to watch. One of the most popular shows was the Miss America Pageant. At some point during the goings-on, contestants were asked questions about their personal convictions. It seemed that one particular question always made its way into the rotation, “If you could wish for one thing in this world, what would you wish for?” To my recollection, the most popular response was, “I’d wish for world peace.” Looking back now, it makes sense. God has instilled a thirst in humanity for peace.
Humans spend their lifetimes looking for peace; yet, few seem to find it. The world is on a quest, but most have faulty maps. Due to this malady, humans collide, sometimes fiercely, into one another, ruining the highly sought-after idea of “world peace.”
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
The only accurate “map” to finding peace is the Word of God. We learn how to “read” this map by studying our Bibles with the intent of being able to interpret life, itself, both the temporal and eternal aspects of it. We never find peace when we attempt to use our lives to interpret the Bible (e.g., we suppose we can find peace on our own and stake a claim to the peace Jesus spoke of). Existentialism is one of the many counterfeit “maps” used in the attempt to finding peace. Jesus set the record straight.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6
The source of peace, namely Jesus Christ, is the key to finding that which the world desperately seeks. In other words, the Bible (the “map”) leads us to Him. Satan and the kingdom of darkness peddle lots of counterfeit sources (some even pay purveyors of false peace handsomely as they attend so-called “Christian” services in their “Sunday best” clothing). If you get the source wrong, you won’t find what your heart desires most. Jesus clearly stated that He is the source of peace and He made a point of stating, “Not as the world gives do I give to you,” (John 14:27) in order to draw an absolute, critical distinction between His peace and the counterfeits the world offers us. His peace is God’s peace.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:7
The Bible teaches us that only believers have access to the peace Jesus promises to give. This is why we see so many people struggling with debilitating forms of depression in this world. It’s because they are searching for something they can’t obtain in the absence of salvation. Their frustration isn’t for a lack of trying; rather, it’s due to continuously looking in the wrong place. It’s like when you run late to an appointment because you spent ten minutes trying to find your sunglasses when all the while they were on your head! With the salvific ministry of God the Holy Spirit, Jesus has made Himself clearly known to those who seek the truth, in humility (James 4:6).
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30
It’s not that peace is necessarily hard to find; it’s that man’s arrogance makes him blind. Solomon had a lot to say about this type of searching. In the end, he penned an entire book in the Bible describing the futility of “striving after the wind”.
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
— Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
Solomon is a perfect example of someone who spent way too much time trying to find peace in all the wrong places. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying!
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 2:11
Eventually, Solomon ended up where everyone ends up who experiments with constructing a life of peace and happiness outside of God’s plan – he hated life! What a terrible fate to suffer.
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
— Ecclesiastes 2:17
Truth be told, arrogance is the root cause of a person’s hatred for life. Trying harder, as per the recommendations from the latest self-help book, never fixes the core issue. Furthermore, this doesn’t please our Maker. What pleases God is humility. God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Peace is a grace gift from God and it’s something the world cannot provide us with (John 14:27). Instead of striving after the wind, we ought to be praying for humility. Instead of attempting to architect a life that we ultimately hate because it inevitably fails us, we ought to be tapping into the source of life itself, namely Christ, for our peace. He promises to give it to us freely, right?
In the end, Solomon got it right.
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
— Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
This global search for peace that I used to hear about from the Miss America Pageant contestants has been made available to us. There’s no reason to fret over the difficulty of finding it; however, there’s only one way we can ever be successful in this quest. It begins with humility and is sourced solely by the Lord.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins