PEACE CAN REIGN IN OUR HEARTS

Amid the chaos and turbulent madness of this world, peace can reign in our hearts.  Amid the diseases and stress of this world, peace can reign in our hearts.  Amid the struggles and heartaches of this world, peace can reign in our hearts.  This morning for the first time in a long time, I turned on the news only to see and hear about the war in Russia with Ukraine, the war between Israel and Humas.  That's not even covering all the other stuff that is happening around the world and right here in the USA.  Tension is high around the world.  Countries are all struggling to become more powerful.  Nations are battling nations and people are battling people.  It seems ridiculous!  All this strife, all this war, all these innocent lives lost to ego and pride.  The sense that "I'm right and you're wrong" is so strong that people feel it is okay to kill others and do whatever they have to to prove their point.  How amidst all this pain and destruction can we ever find peace?  Is it possible for peace to reign in our hearts with all that is going on in this world.  For me the answer is yes.

Many years ago I decided to stop watching the news because it was bringing me down.  Think about it.  I hardly ever hear any good on the news, except maybe the last few minutes of the broadcast will contain a little snippet of goodness.  That is so outrageous.  There is so much good going on in this world, there is so much joy and happiness that is flowing, yet we never hear about it.  Why?  Satan wants us to hear about all the chaos and evil that is happening in this world.  He wants us to sit and worry about a nuclear war head heading our way some where in the distant future.  He wants us to get wrapped up with the evil so much that we lose focus of God.  Satan wants us to be filled with stress and worry, so he fills the news screens with it and the internet.  It's like there is an epidemic of evil.  It's everywhere, even in the churches.  "Wait churches?"  Yes!  Religions fight each other!  They battle over beliefs, they battle over, rituals, they battle over how to pray, they battle over whether they should baptize babies or adults, they battle over  the sizes of the churches and they battle over whether another church is stealing their members.  Really?  

I remember when Jerry and I chose to attend Cedar Creek in Toledo, Ohio.  I actually had a friend who was still Catholic come up to me and tell me he would pray that God would guide me back to His church, after all the Catholic church is the only church that God has ordained, right?  He commented that he was tired of these radical churches stealing members of the catholic church away.  I was totally blown away by his comments and deeply saddened by them also.  To me the church are the people who believe in Jesus Christ, not a building, not a religion.  In fact to prove a point let me state this, when Jesus was crucified and the 2 thieves were on each side of Him.  The one who believed in Him, the one who said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom"  went with Jesus to Heaven.  How do I know this?  Read the very next scripture, Luke 23:43  And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  This man was of probably not a member of any specific church, he do anything good, he was being crucified for a crime.  But because he believed that Jesus was the Son of God, he was in paradise with Jesus that very day!  

So how can peace reign in our hearts?  Well for me when I verbally accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I knew that He was with me.  I now know that no matter what happens in this world, no matter how much evil is rampant, no matter how much natural disasters plague this world, I will be with Jesus in paradise some day.  My eternity was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  I am not in my home here on Earth, my home is in paradise, heaven with Jesus Christ is where is truly belong.  If I can take a few of you with me, that would be amazing.  Why wouldn't I have peace in my heart?  Jesus has already fought the battle and we believers win!  I have read the end of the story!  It is amazing!  I will not allow turmoil, strife, hatred, stress or worry to invade the peace Jesus Christ died to give me.  If you haven't verbally accepted Jesus, I pray you do it today!!!  It's never too late until your dead.  

May the peace of Jesus Christ invade your heart.  May His love invade your soul and may His blood wash over you and cleanse you of all sin.  May His peace reign in your heart forever, in Jesus name I pray, amen!