Day 4: No Peace Without The Prince

The second title of Jesus we’ve begun to look at yesterday, is ‘Prince of Peace’. In Isaiah 57:19-21 we have God's promise of peace to all but we also have a warning that peace is not for the wicked. Peace is not for those who refuse God's righteous government in the person of Jesus. We cannot have peace apart from the Prince of Peace, Jesus. This is what Isaiah says:

“Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near, says the Lord, and I will heal him.”

That's God's offer of peace and healing, and note that peace and healing go very closely together. It goes on:

“But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”

You see, those who refuse government are like the sea that cannot rest. It's always tossing, it's never fully quiet, it cannot be totally calm. There's always the elements of unrest, of disturbance there. That comes through the rejection of God's righteous government in the person of Jesus.

So, Jesus is he Prince of Peace, the ruler whose government alone can bring peace to humanity.

Let's consider how this applies to our contemporary situation today. One of the most conspicuous features of the world situation today is the dearth of true leadership -- political and in other areas also. There seem to be just two alternatives offered to humanity. The first is dictatorial oppression, totalitarianism. The second is weak, ineffectual leadership that doesn't really lead, it merely follows where the multitude want to go. Its decisions are often governed by the Harris or the Gallup polls -- that's not leadership.

People are faced with two unwelcome alternatives. They're afraid of oppression but they're tired of the confusion due to ineffectual leadership. So, what is the solution? The answer is: Jesus is the only solution. Humanity is being prepared to accept that solution. Humanity is being faced with the fact that there must be good government if there is to be peace. Humanity is also being confronted with the fact that man, in his own unregenerate, rebellious nature cannot offer truly good government. And so, God's answer is Jesus, Prince of Peace.

But thank God you don't have to wait until the future to experience the peace that Jesus brings. If you will willingly yield to the Lordship of Jesus in your life you can have that peace right now.

Listen to what Paul says in Romans 10:8-9;

“The word [the gospel] is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming...”

It demands a response of faith. And this is the word in one verse:

“...that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

God has an answer for your problem. He offers you salvation, deliverance, healing, peace. But there are just two conditions. You have to believe in your heart the record of the gospel that God raised Jesus from the dead. But, believing in your heart by itself is not enough. You have to also confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord.