YOU GET THE PEACE YOU FIGHT FOR

Let me start by saying that the peace of God that comes from salvation is a gift from God (Romans 5:1). This cannot be earned by any amount of effort in our lives. However, we must not think that this peace always means that we will have in life. Let me explain it from a passage in the book of Numbers. Moses writes these words,

55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them

whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall

trouble you in the land where you dwell (Numbers 33:55).

The Lord is leading the people of Israel into the land of promise. He tells them that when they arrive they will need to demonstrate their distinction by driving out everyone who will not yield and bow in adoration and worship to their Lord (Numbers 33:52). The Lord promises to give them the land (v53), but He calls them to fight as a condition for how they will enjoy living in the land. In other words, He promised them the land, but their peace in the land was based on their driving out everything and everyone who would disrupt this peace.

Their experience of peace in their lives is directly related to their fight against the peace-snatchers. The potential problem, however, is not the power of peace-snatchers in the land but whether or not the people of God let them remain in the land rather than driving them out. If the peace-snatchers were allowed to remain in the land the Lord promised that such people would "trouble you in the land where you dwell" (v55). This is why Israel would not be at rest (at peace) for a long time in their own land: they would not drive out all that interfered with their joy.

Some believers have restless lives because they are still courting the world that is constantly snatching their peace. They are not living on the basis of being distinct for the Lord but, instead, are seeking to make what is bitter, sweet. They are engaging in relationships that are minute by minute snatching their peace. They are listening to the advice and counsel from those who don't know their God as if it was gospel-truth. They are allowing their minds to be fueled with things that are contrary to godliness. As a result, they are restless (without peace) in their relationships, their jobs, their churches and their life!

So, they do what any believer would do: they ask the Lord for peace. But it is presumptuous, misguided and arrogant to ask the Lord for peace in our lives when we are not willing to fight for peace by living in ways of obedience to the Lord. We cannot get practical peace confused with eternal peace. My eternal peace is a gift of God. My practical peace is the fruit of my daily fight. If I am not driving out the peace-snatchers in my life and environment they will be troubling me. I am working against my own peace when I am working for my own desires. If I am still worshiping at the high places (the altars) of sensual passion, sensual television, spiritual indifference and am not tearing these down on the daily, I should not expect to experience peace in my life, only trouble.

In this passage the Lord was helping the people of Israel and is helping us to see that our practical peace is our responsibility. We cannot miss this reality. It is only when I am committed to driving out (or being separate from -2 Corinthians 6:14-16) all that is opposite of the Lord and, therefore, opposing to my peace - only then can I expect to live in peace and be surrounded by peace on all sides. If you are finding that your life is void of the joy of peace we need to first look at the patterns of our lives and relationships to see if we are nestling up to peace-snatches: people, things and activities designed to sap your joy in Jesus.

The Joy of the Lord is His gift. Joy in Jesus comes as I drive out all pretenders and contenders. My peace in life and relationship is in my fight. If I am not fighting for this peace it is certain that I cannot and will not experience it. God gave them the land (Numbers 33:53). It belonged to them by gift and inheritance. Now, if they are to have peace in their land they will need to do some house cleaning.

I will end with this one way to fight, using the words of the prophet Isaiah

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you

(Isaiah 26:3)

FIGHTING POINT: Keep your mind on Christ and drive out of your life anything and or anyone that contends against this. Leave no residue!