Preserve social peace

Part of the eschatological or end time prophecies made by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 24 is about wars and rumours of wars. And when we look at the strife, violence and wars in many parts of the world today it is easy to conclude that we are now in the last days.
But is it true that God has ordained that the second coming of the Prince of peace should be heralded by wars and chaos? No. It is that people, through their own selfish choices and under the influence of Satan, plunge themselves into wars and contentions.
Apostle James pointed out that evil desires are the source of wars. James 4:1 reads, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.”
Peace means the absence of war. Social peace means peace between neighbours. It begins with peace between one person and the other and spreads to families, communities, nations and the world. Social peace does not come by chance neither does it happen on its own. It prevails only when people involved do their part to live peaceably with others. Hence the exhortation by Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
Social peace is heavily dependent on each man’s effort towards living in peace with his or her neighbour. Apostle Paul acknowledges in this verse that to live in peace with all men is a possibility but not always a present reality. But why is it difficult to live in peace with all men? King David gave a wonderful clue to the answer to this question when he said, “I am for peace, but they are for war.”
Herein lies the root of the difficulty in fostering social peace: some people are peace-loving while others are war-loving. As long as one person is a peace-maker and the other one is a trouble-maker, social peace will not obtain in marriages, families, communities and nations where such discordance exists. The problem is that where social peace is lacking, political instability and economic woes mount. Where there is no peace, there is no progress.
In Zimbabwe we enjoy a greater measure of social peace than many other nations of our continent and of the world. We give thanks to God for that. However, it is very much possible for us to enjoy greater peace if church denominations stop attacking other church denominations and if political parties respect each other and if we manage to vote peacefully in the coming elections. Violence and hatred should be replaced by tolerance and love. If we let love lead us and not lust, we will enjoy greater peace. If we learn to foster unity in diversity we will have greater peace. Economic development and growth hinges greatly on the prevalence of peace. But for us Zimbabweans to achieve this greater peace, there needs to arise among us more peace-makers than trouble-makers.
Peacemaking is not a Mickey Mouse job though. Peacemakers are people who are prepared to give up most of their rights in the interest of others. They are selfless in their attitude. They are sacrificial in their giving. Above all else, they always focus on achieving the greater good and serving the interests of the majority.
 Explaining this crucial role of peacemaking Antonio Gilberto da Silva in his book, Abundant Living, wrote: “If you are a man or woman of peace you will recognise that you are not free to do as you please.
“Peace with others (social peace) may require understanding or willingness to change on your part where there are personal differences. Often, the situation or circumstance may not lead to peaceful relations when someone always insists on having his own way.” I cannot agree with him more.
Social peace can be achieved much more easily if it is aimed at in sequence with other kinds of peace.
There are three kinds of peace according to the Bible. There is peace with God, which comes at one’s conversion. When a person is converted he or she is now at peace with God.
Being at peace with God enables one’s attitude, motives and desires to be changed. Once one is at peace with God he or she can now enjoy inward peace. Inner peace will replace anger, turmoil and hostility.
With inner peace having been obtained, one can now live in peace with others.
Thus, there can be no real social peace when there is no real inner peace, and there can be no real inner peace when there is no real peace with God.
-For feedback call Pastor Mairos on 0772889766 or email mairos78@yahoo.co.uk