Peace and Power
GIVEN mankind's record of conflict, it sometimes seems to take power to establish and maintain peace. But if we depend on physical force to provide the basis for peace, we are consenting to a precarious priority that brings a fragile peace, at best. The implication of such dependence is that peace is secure only where the most force lies. Such a belief misses the central message of the Bible. Christ Jesus gave an entirely spiritual perspective to the relationship of peace with power. From his example we can see that the peace that resulted from prayerful communion with God came first, and it inevitably brought to light the spiritual power that heals and saves. He showed the one source of both just peace and power to be God. This understanding lifts peace above material conditions and plants it firmly on a spiritual basis where being at peace means being right with God.
The entire ministry of Jesus demonstrated righteousness --right thinking and right acting in accord with the spiritual laws of God, Love. Jesus showed that the peace that came from being right with God brings spiritual power into human experience as nothing else can. It was spiritual power alone that enabled Jesus to regenerate and heal, feed multitudes, still storms.
Such peace is still available to mankind today. It is as eternal as its divine source, God. It pours the oil of spiritual power into the wounds of the world and heals with love and compassion. But spiritual peace cannot be established in our lives without the prayerful work we do to bring our thoughts and actions into accord with God. We read of the results of such work in the book of Isaiah: "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
Jesus' remarkable works followed his quiet and persistent communion with his Father. At his birth, a few were watching and listening. They heard the angels announce peace and goodwill toward men. God's power shone in the light that pierced the darkness. Peacemaking formed one of the Christly beatitudes that Jesus taught, and the spiritual power he exercised blessed those who sought him. The spiritual qualities associated with the Master--meekness, purity, love--are more often associated with peace t
han with any material form of power. But they brought with them the spiritual power he demonstrated through healing.
Mankind is rightly willing to work hard and sacrifice much, for even temporary peace. Then how much more willing we should be to strive each day for the permanent peace that comes from understanding our relationship with God and living in obedience to Him! "To attain peace and holiness, writes Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902, "is to recognize the divine presence and allness. Such peace replaces the false sense of security,
based on changeable world conditions, with the peace that comes with the strength and permanency of God's presence. Nothing can destroy this peace. It enlightens everything it touches. Such peace is entirely spiritual, out of the range of warfare and violence. It needs nothing material to enforce it, since it springs from our prayerful understanding of man's unbreakable unity with God.
As more individuals are willing to undertake this spiritual work, it can result in the most powerful, permanent, and impartial good for mankind the world has ever known. It is never too late, or too soon, to begin this work of drawing close to God and to gain the spiritual peace and power such closeness promises.
