peace, love, dove

The Word for today:
Psalm 85

mark this:  Psalm 85:13
Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

When I was a kid, there were peace songs and peace emblems and if you held up your first two fingers, it made the peace sign. 

Since then, I've seen a lot of people drop their first finger, displaying the sign that remains.

John Lennon was singing "Imagine."  Dopey then, it sounds dopier now.  It took a lot of dope to sing that song.  John Lennon, of course, was murdered by a deranged man who read "Catcher in the Rye" a few too many times.  Imagine.

Our current President said he would bring hope and change.  The other night I heard a song that went like this:
"You can take your change on down the road and leave me here with mine."
That song expresses my hope.

Twenty short months ago, voters on TV held signs saying,
"We are The Ones we've been Waiting For"
"We are the Change We Seek"

I guess they never showed up to meet themselves.  It's hard to find yourself when you're not there.

***

Why doesn't hope survive?  Why can't peace prevail?  Psalm 85 has the answer:
Surely his salvation is near to those who honor him; our land will be filled with his glory.
Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!   (Psalms 85:9-10)

Our land will find salvation and peace when we honor him, when righteousness and peace have kissed.  Things have to be right before there can be peace in the world. Righteousness and peace aren't on speaking terms, let alone kissing terms, at the present time. 

The book of James teaches us where war comes from:
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. (James 4:1-2)

***

The prerequisite for peace is a right relationship to God through Jesus Christ:
Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.  (Psalms 85:13)

Peace isn't a concept, or even a hope. Peace is a person.  The Bible calls him the Prince of Peace:
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)


Until we find him, we never find peace.  Not even in our imaginations.