It goes without saying that everyone wants to have peace, but only a few know where to find it!

In the Old Testament, the English word that we translate as “peace” comes from the Hebrew word shalom, and as we all know, shalom is the word used in common greetings among family, friends, and acquaintances even today. Throughout the Old Testament, shalom is a word used to describe a wide number of relationships, including relationships between individuals, families, and with God and men.

An interesting example of the use of shalom is found in Psalm 41 where King David, the psalmist, refers to Ahithophel, the one who had previously abandoned him in order to support David’s son Absalom. Notice that David referred to Ahithophel as,

“…my close friend, one in whom I trusted…” (Psalm 41:9).

David and Ahithophel used to be “best of friends.” Here, the word “close” is translated from the Hebrew shalom, and can also be translated as “my familiar friend.” Interestingly, a literal translation is, “my peace friend,” or as we would say “the friend with whom I have peace.”

But the most important ways in which the word PEACE is used are found in the New Testament, and it is there that we find three different aspects of PEACE: First and foremost, it is essential that we have “PEACE with God;” 2) Secondly, it is important that we experience the “PEACE of God”; Finally, we are called to seek and pursue “PEACE with others”. So first, let’s jump into what it means to have “PEACE with God.”

The late evangelist Billy Graham penned his first book entitled “Peace with God” and highlighted the fact that this is mankind’s greatest need. And indeed, it is! Until we have “Peace with God,” we will never find any other kind of peace though we may search high and low for it. In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he communicated how we can all experience this peace:

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

In short, “Peace” comes through “Justification.” What was that again? Justification is a legal term that means to be made right with God! And the only way we can be made right with God is to have our sins forgiven and to be brought into a right relationship with Him through Jesus.

And just how does this happen? Paul tells us that “Justification” comes through “Faith,” that is, trusting in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. This is what we call “Saving Faith,” which is the faith we express when we acknowledge that Jesus died on a Roman cross, and that when He died, He paid the penalty for our sins by shedding His blood. And by dying on the cross, He satisfied God’s justice by paying the price for our sins which opened the door for us to enter into a relationship with God. Having once been alienated from Him, we are no longer “strangers” to God, as Paul wrote to the Christians in the Church in Colossae,

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:21-22).

Outside of Christ, everyone is “alienated” from God, being hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds. The way for us to be “reconciled” to God is through Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins. Having once been alienated, we are now reconciled to the Creator of the Universe through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you have never been justified by faith and reconciled to God, then there is no need to keep putting it off. If you sense the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin and tugging at your heart for a personal relationship with God, then take a step of faith and acknowledge your sin and ask Christ to forgive your sins and redeem you. Remember Jesus’ invitation,  

“Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

We experience the “rest” that Jesus promised only when we have “Peace with God.” The invitation is clear, so just ask the One who died for you to release you from the penalty and power of sin and bring you into a relationship with Him. Just come to Jesus, and He will give you the true “rest” that comes from having “Peace with God.”