REALITY OF PEACE IN THIS WORLD

R E A L I T Y O F P E A C E I N  T H I S W O R L D 

Beirut, Lebanon

4, October 2024

Palig Dawidian

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27

The question of how and when evil began is as old as humanity itself. The Bible recounts the first act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve chose to defy God. This marked the beginning of evil in the world. Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned". But while we recognize the existence of evil around us, many are quick to shift the blame onto society, circumstances, Adam’s original sin, or even God. But this avoidance of personal responsibility is, in itself, part of the problem. Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Many of us question why we should bear the consequences of Adam and Eve's sin. "I’m not like them," we might say, insisting that we are inherently good, or at least better than they were. However, this belief is a misunderstanding of human nature. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. I’m not here to convince you that you’re not good, but I am here to point out that true goodness is only possible through Jesus Christ and His teachings. Without Him, we are left in our fallen state far from the goodness we imagine we possess. Mark 10:18 Jesus said:"No one is good except God alone". In fact, the truth is we are just as guilty, if not more so, than Adam and Eve. Our daily actions, the selfishness, the anger, the envy, all of these are reflections of the sinful nature within us. 1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. We aren’t victims of Adam and Eve’s mistake alone; we actively contribute to the evil in the world.

Taking Responsibility

If we reflect on our own lives, it becomes clear that we have sustained evil in our own ways. We lie, cheat, hate, and lust... We might think, “How could one be so inhumane, so disobedient?” But are we any different? The sinful nature that prompted the fall lives in each of us. We’re not just suffering the consequences of evil we are complicit in sinning ourselves. Often, we are worse. Our actions prove that pride, greed, and corruption pervade society. Romans 3:12 They have all turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one". Just look at the state of the world, and it’s easy to see that evil is not just a thing of the past.

Many of us believe that because we don’t commit “big” sins like murder or theft... we are contributing to the peace of the world. But Jesus teaches that all sin, whether it’s anger, envy, or neglecting to love others, is equally damaging. In Matthew 5:21-22, He says, “You have heard it said...‘You shall not murder,’ but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Even harboring anger or resentment disrupts peace and makes us guilty before God. James 2:10 reminds us that “whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” This shows that no sin is small in God’s eyes. Whether it’s anger or murder, each sin distances us from God, and only through Christ’s grace can we contribute to true peace and righteousness in the world.

Of course, it's easy to blame others be it God, Adam and Eve, our families, society, or governments for the presence of evil but how are you contributing to the change? We must take responsibility for the choices we make every day. True change doesn’t come from pointing fingers; it comes from looking inward. Romans 14:12 "Each of us will give an account of himself to God". Change starts with you, is not just another saying it’s a challenge to recognize your own role in the world’s brokenness and your capacity to make it better. This change doesn’t begin in grand gestures or distant places; it starts at home. It starts in your family, in the way you treat those closest to you. Church begins in your home, and if we want to see transformation in our society, it has to start with us living out Christ’s teachings in our daily lives. Living life in Christ involves embodying humility, love, forgiveness, and faith in every aspect of life.

If individuals took responsibility for their actions, the world would indeed be a better place, but true transformation comes only through the work of the Holy Spirit, as emphasized in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” These virtues empower us to overcome ego and pride, enabling us to act with humility and love toward one another. When we embrace humility and take responsibility, we become agents of true peace and transformation, reflecting the heart of Christ.

Why Jesus Christ is the Answer to the Peace you Long for on Earth

Whether it’s inner peace and mindfulness, healthy relationships, cultural understanding and acceptance, social and economic justice, rule of law and governance, environmental sustainability, or global cooperation, you can’t find peace where you’ve lost it.

We often hear phrases like, “the world broke me”, we see parents worrying about sending their children into a world that can tarnish their innocence. Based on many experiences, it’s clear that the world has a way of breaking us. It gives us trust issues and anxieties... making it difficult to trust anyone but ourselves leaving us overwhelmed and burned out. We become cold, ignoring the needs of others and caring only for our own comfort. Sadly, some even raise their children accordingly, perpetuating this cycle of pain. I repeat, you can’t find peace where you’ve lost it.

The world makes you cold; it leads you to hurt others because you’ve been hurt yourself. It fosters a spirit of holding grudges instead of forgiving, of selfishness and entitlement, stripping away humility and making everything revolve around personal comfort and selfish needs. The world teaches you that it’s all about "you", while Jesus teaches that it’s about "us".

Do you still believe you are inherently a good person, or do you recognize areas where selfishness and evil have crept in? The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?". The truth is, without Christ, our hearts are tainted by sin. Life in this world often demands selfishness and self-preservation, but Jesus calls us to something higher, humility and gratitude. However, We must examine ourselves and ask, "Am I getting too comfortable , or do I understand that this world is not my home?" Paul writes in Hebrews 13:14 "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come". Our true home is our eternity with Christ , and this perspective should drive our decisions, actions, and daily lives on earth.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"

Matthew 6:33