Finding Peace

In Raleigh from 4pm until 7pm there are approximately 10 hours of news on the local TV stations. That is not counting all the 24 hour news channels. Most of the local news is about political turmoil, robberies, shootings, murders, tragic accidents, scandals, deception, and on and on, nothing but bad news. Much of it is repeated every half hour, and if there is not enough bad local news they will tell about bad news in California, Florida, Kentucky or some other state. Why do people in Raleigh need to know about a man killed in Orlando Florida? Is that what people want to hear? Nothing but bad news?

When a person sits and watches that garbage they may become insensitive to the pain and heartache of others. They may get depressed. Maybe some people become angry, and stressed. Can anything good come from watching the news? How can any person be at peace after seeing and hearing about lives that are being disrupted by horrible events.

I don’t have to watch any of the news broadcasts to know what the news is. In these days when the end of the age appears to be near, the general news is this, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places... you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:6-7, 9-12, 14

This is not very specific, but it is still bad news; bad news for those who do not know Jesus. What about for those who are followers of Christ? Well, for those who are hearing about the bad news, but they are living the good news it is different. It doesn't matter what is happening in the world, those who have received the good news will have peace. Think about this. Soon after that  most horrible, cruel, execution of Jesus, after the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus appeared before the disciples and he said, “Peace be with you.” The Prince of Peace gave his Peace to those who at the time had not one ounce of peace.

I find it most interesting that it was Jesus' painful death on the cross that made it possible for us to live in peace when the world is experiencing nothing but the terribly bad news of wars, death, destruction, and all manner of actions guided by evil.

If you are tired of bad news, and if you are looking for the good news that brings peace do this. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7