Proclaiming Peace

The law in the Old Testament is full of useful principles and insights into the character of God.  People have the mistaken view that there is a difference between the "God" portrayed in the Old Testament and the New.  This is simply not supported in scripture.  God's love and grace is on full display throughout all scripture for all who will see and hear.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Never has He suggested "Do as I say but not as I do," but has always kept His Word in righteousness.

One of the stumbling blocks for people is how God granted the children of Israel land which was obtained through warfare.  As the body counts rise, so do the eyebrows of some people.  "How could a loving God allow and encourage such carnage?"  God has always given people opportunity for salvation.  He has never visited His wrath upon people or nations without warning.  Noah was a preacher of righteousness for over 100 years before the flood, warning people of the wrath to come.  Because people refused to heed him and seek refuge in the ark before God shut him in, they were all destroyed.  A day is coming when God will judge the world in righteousness and fire.  Jesus is returning in glory with fierce vengeance against all those who war against Him.

Consider this principle in the law, a principle God has always followed.  Deuteronomy 20:10-13 reads, "When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. ¹¹ And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. ¹² Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. ¹³ And when the LORD your God delivers it into your hands, you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword."  It was a law in Israel that before the Hebrews destroyed a city in the land given them by God, they would first give the inhabitants and offer of peace.  If the people submitted to the offer and opened their gates in peace, they would be servants and be permitted to live.  But if the people refused the offer of peace, the Israelites would destroy the city and those within it.  The principle God always follows is before destruction there must always be a proclamation of an offer of peace.  For those who hear and submit to His offer, they will be given life.  All those who refuse His offer make themselves enemies of God and will be subject to His fierce wrath.

Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."  God owns all things, being Creator of heaven and earth.  He has created every living thing, having breathed into every human being a living soul.  Though we are doomed to destruction, having been separated from God by our sin, God has spoken peace to us through Jesus Christ.  When angel's heralded the birth of Christ of the virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, they sang together in Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  In sending Jesus Christ as Messiah and Saviour, God has made an offer of peace to all men through the Gospel.  The conditions of salvation are repentance and faith in Christ.  Acts 17:30-31 reads, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

God has spoken peace to all people.  Jesus spread His arms in love, allowing His hands and feet to be nailed to the cross.  Romans 5:8 explains, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  It is not God's will that any perish but that all would come to repentance.  Should God be blamed because He is righteous and just and men are stubborn sinners who refuse His conditions of peace?  God has made a way for all to be saved from the flames of hell at the cost of His own blood (Acts 20:28).  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  The pride of man keeps him from surrendering to God's terms.  He thinks nothing to stand in judgment of God and the Bible without even reading it!

The offer of peace through Christ is extended to you today.  He graciously extends His arms to you in friendship.  He freely offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will submit to Him as servants.  It is not that God needs more servants but desires to adopt all who repent and believe in Christ as His own sons!  If you refuse His offer today, tomorrow, all the way until the days of your life expire, you will experience death and everlasting torment in hell.  Do not delay to accept God's conditions of peace, for what man among you knows the day of his death?  Without Christ you are dead even now!  Now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation.  Should you choose to war against God, God's fury will be righteously poured out on you without intermission.  He pleads with you through me.  Drop your weapons; lay aside your poor excuses.  Choose instead to open the gates of your heart in peace toward Him!  He will accept all who receive Him.