We Looked for Peace
Jeremiah 8:15
"We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!"
One of the biggest lies the Devil feeds people is that you have to look for peace. Whenever someone looks for peace, they often compromise to obtain it. The first mistake that the people made in the verse above is that they looked for peace as if it was a possession. Peace is not a possession that you hold, but peace is the result of taking right actions.
I recently helped a pastor who was experiencing turmoil in his church. As he told me about his situation he said to me, "All I want in my church is peace." You could hear the sincerity in his heart. I felt for this pastor as it was evident he loved the people of his church. I told the pastor that his desire for peace was keeping him from having it. I told him if he would take the right actions, he would find peace in his church.
Too many churches, homes, organizations or nations look for peace and never find it because they don't take the right actions to obtain it. Having peace in the home or a church won't be easy. Leadership must make tough choices, but if they will do the right thing they will discover an atmosphere of peace. Jeremiah 8 shows us what it takes to get peace.
First, sin must be removed. Verse 14 says, "...we have sinned against the LORD." Sin is the cause of turmoil. As long as you allow sin, you will continue to see turmoil. A person who wants peace in their life must remove the sin from their life. Every time a person gets rid of sin, they experience a feeling of peace. Why? Because they removed the sin. You will never experience peace as long as sin is allowed.
Second, if you want peace, then truth must be present. The leaders said in verse 11, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." These leaders thought that if they talked and preached about peace that they would have it. Absolutely not! Their lying caused more unrest. As long as truth is not revealed, then unrest will prevail. John 8:32 says, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Notice, once a person knows truth they are free. When people know the whole truth it brings freedom, and freedom is the result of peace. Don't cover sin in an attempt to have peace. Let the truth be known and you will find peace.
Third, if you want peace then you must put your foot down. The leaders in verse 11 were so worried about talking about peace that they forgot to perform the actions that cause peace. Right must be established. Sin must be dealt with. That means someone must have the backbone to put their foot down if they want peace. You will never find peace with weak leadership. Parents who won't put their foot down in the home will have a home filled with unrest. Leaders who are not strong enough to put their foot down are leaders who cause unrest in the group they lead.
Fourth, if you want peace, then get busy in the harvest. Verse 20 says, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Soul winning has a way of getting people refocused on what is truly important. Soul winning keeps people from being selfish and gets them focused on others. One of the biggest causes of unrest is selfishness. Get busy reaping the harvest, and you will find people will get focused on others instead of themselves.
Christian, stop looking for peace because you will never find it as long as you look for it. If you want peace, then follow the actions above and you will discover it. Peace is not a possession, but peace is a result of proper actions.