On that momentous occasion, the late King George VI addressed the nation saying: “We have come to the end of our tribulation . . .” He also spoke of turning to the task of restoring “peace and sanity to a shattered world”.
The 8th May 2025 sees the 80th anniversary of “Victory in Europe Day” and we remember, with gratitude, a generation who endured and sacrificed so much to achieve peace from the tyranny of war.
But today the search for peace continues. We find peace remains elusive, transient, and tragically, so often, it quickly gives way to conflict.
Away from the political scene and warring factions, conflict can seem so widespread in society, recurrent in the workplace, and prevalent in our personal lives; even the mind can resemble a battleground. Often, what is left is brokenness and a trail of destruction.
This bleak outlook can lead us to question why there is such conflict.
Is the achievement of lasting peace, at best, a noble endeavour, a worthy aspiration, or an ideal that, regrettably, will never be fully realised?
Is it possible to know lasting peace through human endeavour, or do we need to look beyond ourselves and our best efforts to find this enduring calm?
The Bible offers the answers to life’s most troubling and difficult questions:
The absence of peace finds its roots in the fact that there is something deeply wrong inside. Scripture tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Fundamentally, we have offended a holy God and have a “mind that is set on the flesh [and therefore] is hostile to God” (Romans 8:7 ESV).
Therefore, the root of the problem is sin. Isaiah the prophet pointed out: “we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
As sinners, we all stand guilty in God’s courtroom, where all are “under sin; as it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; . . . the way of peace they have not known’” (Romans 3:9-10,17).
With guilt comes the sentence of condemnation, judgement, and the wrath of God abiding over humankind, which, left without remedy, will lead to eternal separation from God and punishment in a “place of torment” (Luke 16:28) where there is certainly no peace.
What can be done about this predicament? Is peace with God possible for us personally? And if it is, how will it affect my relationship with those around me?
The Bible has the answer – peace with God is available and the assurance of it should have a positive impact on our relationships with others:
Once again, Isaiah the prophet points us to the, then coming, Messiah whose “name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
At the coming of the Lord Jesus, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds was: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14).
The coming of God’s Son into this world brought the proclamation of peace to a world that was shattered by sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ, referring to Himself as He quoted from the Old Testament, said:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”
(Luke 4:18).
Today, by the grace of God, we make known the “gospel of peace” and “bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15); there is “. . . peace through Jesus Christ - He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). He came to this world to heal our brokenness, caused by sin, and provide us with lasting peace that can be enjoyed in a relationship with God.
His perfect peace is imparted to us when we recognise ourselves as sinners who have disobeyed God, deserve His judgement, and turn to Him in repentance, placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). True lasting peace begins by having this “peace with God”, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as a willing sacrifice for sin on a cross to make peace with God possible for all: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6); “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself . . . having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
And with the presence of the gracious Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer from the moment they trust in Christ, the Christian carries with them the capacity to display peace with others, and to “pursue the things which make for peace . . .” (Romans 14:19), thus demonstrating “the fruit of the Spirit . . . love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22).
