Peace On Earth But Not Yet

Well, if you'd like a title to today's message, it is... Peace on Earth, but not yet. Peace on Earth, but not yet. And if you have your Bibles, we can open them up to the Gospel of Luke. We're going to begin in Luke 12, and the passage that we'll be looking at today is verses 49 through 53. So that's Luke 12, verses 49 through 53 is where we'll begin. And as you arrive to this passage, you may find a title that is found in... from the different publishers. Though the publisher in my book of my Bible has the title, Christ Brings Division. Perhaps you have that title or a similar title to these beginning verses here beginning at verse 49. So you might think it's a little bit odd to come to this passage and even have this focus here in a recent week where we turned our focus and had our focus in celebration, picturing God's final plan of peace on earth. So you might find it a little odd that we consider these passages here. And even more counterintuitive here, we find in this passage that Jesus Christ categorically states that He did not come to give peace on earth. Rather, what He reveals in this passage to His listeners is that there is a way to peace. There is a process to peace, a peace process. There is a means to bring peace on earth that everyone must join on earth before it can be achieved. While peace is the goal of so many of mankind here on earth, what we're going to discover today is it doesn't simply come easy. Peace on earth will not come by simply imagining it. So peace on earth will not come from even well-intentioned social constructs or man-made programs. Rather, what's going to be revealed in this passage is counterintuitive to the thinking of man. There is a specific peace process that all must join, and Jesus Christ here is going to instruct us in that way. And again, it may be a little bit surprising. Let's look at this. Luke 12. Let's begin in verse 49. Here is Jesus Christ speaking, and He says, I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it's accomplished. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you not at all, but rather division. For from now on, five in one house will be divided. Three against two, two against three. Father will be divided against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and even daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. Let's stop there.

We're going to get to this peace process as revealed in this passage, but before we get to this process, I think it's important for us to seek to understand, first of all, its absence. When thinking about how is peace on earth going to come about, we first need to establish the reason for its absence. It's only in identifying the reason for its absence that we can then discover and commit ourselves to bringing about its reality. Everyone, again, seeks and speaks about peace. Everyone unites about peace. Everyone seemingly marches for peace. There are so many even praying for peace, but we do not live in a peaceful world, and we do not live in a peaceful nation. There is intense and destructive fighting occurring. We know that. We came back from the feast, and there it is across all of the news networks. Intense fighting and wars. There's even intense and destructive fighting here at home, in our schools, and even in our homes that we live in. So, the lack of peace is obvious to everyone that is looking, and so we ask, despite all who are seeking it, why can't we achieve it? Why is there such an absence of peace?

Well, the answer that Scripture gives is that the world has lost any experience of peace because simply stated, man's rebellion and turning against God. It's that simple. We have an absence of peace because of man's sin, and we have an absence of peace because of the breaking of God's law. And it is that which began at the Garden of Eden. We know that which ushered in the experience of dis-peace. There in the garden, the snake, Satan the devil, introduced evil, his wicked way to man, and therefore ushering in dis-peace from that time forward. This fact is repeated all throughout Scripture. In fact, if you want to keep your marker here in Luke 12, let's just look at a few places in Scripture to help punctuate the fact, the reason why we have dis-peace on earth. Keep your marker here. Let's first turn back to the Old Testament to Isaiah 48 and verse 22. If you have your Bibles, let's turn over to the prophet Isaiah, chapter 48 and verse 22.

Here is just one of the places in Scripture where we find the clear statement that wickedness or sin is the ultimate reason for man's dis-peace. Look at this. Isaiah says, Isaiah 48 verse 22, here it is, there is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked. Period. Who are the wicked? Well, all of mankind are the wicked, of course. We have all turned our back on God. We have all turned to our own way. We are sinful by nature. And so Isaiah says, there is no peace for the wicked.

Go forward a few chapters, if you will, Isaiah 59 verse 8. Another reinforcement from the prophet here, Isaiah 59 verse 8. Once again, we have this establishment of why we experience the lack of peace in the world today. Isaiah 59 verse 8, the way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made themselves crooked paths. Whoever takes that way, shall not know peace. Very clear. The way of peace, there is no justice in their ways. They're taking crooked paths, and therefore they will not know peace. Let's move into the New Testament. Just one other place here, Romans 3 verse 10. Romans 3 verse 10. In the New Testament, Paul picks up this narrative and states this exact fact. Romans 3, let's read verses 10 through 17. Paul's actually going to quote from Isaiah here, and again we're looking at the core reason we have no peace. So before we can ever venture to understand how we can bring peace on earth, we have to understand the reason for the no peace. And look what Paul says. Romans 3 beginning in verse 10. As it is written, Romans 3 verse 10, there is none righteous, not one. Okay, so we're all in this. There is no there is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God, they have all turned aside, they have together become unprofitable, there is none who does good, no not one. Their throat is an open tomb, their tongues they have practiced deceit, the poison of ash is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet, verse 15, are swift to shed blood. We're seeing that on the national scene. Destruction and misery are in their way, ways. Verse 17, and the way of peace they have not known. All right, so this is the cause, this is the reason for the dis-peace today. So when you begin to look at the news and you begin to think in terms of north and south and east and west and look at all the political maneuverings that are occurring, just know that no matter the peoples, no matter the political system, the fact is all are guilty under God and end dis-peace on the account of their rebellion against Him. And so you see what this means. It doesn't matter if one of our leaders gets on a plane and travels across the country to sit across from another leader and try to gain some kind of unification around peace, try to find commonality in ideologies, try to find common strategies or some common motivations, looking for unification with the goal of peace. It's not going to come. It's not going to be found. Why? Because they're all the same in this respect. The way of peace they do not know, because they are without God in this world, without hope, and they will remain without peace until and unless they turn to from their wickedness and rebellion and turn to faith in God through Jesus Christ. You see? So we want to start our study in this way, identify the reason for the absence of peace. We must start there before we can begin to accept and understand how to bring about the reality of peace on earth. So just to be clear, all the dreams of peace are futile until first we discover the real source of this peace. And when you discover the source of this peace, you will then discover God's provision or the hope of it, you see. And the Bible then tells us that God has made a great provision for peace in and through a peacemaker. We all know the story. There on an ordinary Judean hillside, on a fairly ordinary night, eventually in the witness of a fairly ordinary shepherd, right, the Prince of Peace came and you remember the angels announced at that time, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. That's what was announced. For your notes, that's Luke 2.14. Luke 2.14.

So God sent his Son to us and he made peace possible. One more scripture, one more scripture just to set our foundation here. Turn over to Colossians 1, verses 19 and 20. Colossians 1, verses 19 and 20 here.

So we're discovering the reason for this peace and now we're establishing where peace will ultimately be found. And Colossians 1, verses 19 and 20 gives it to us very straightforward here. Here it is. Colossians 1, verse 19.

For it pleased the Father that in him, that's Christ, all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him whether things on the earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

So you have war-torn humanity and you have God up here alienated from mankind down here. God sends his Son in the human flesh without sin so that those who are wicked may know the righteousness of God. And so through him be reconciled so that those who are without peace may come to know peace. So the way of peace ultimately is found in the process of finding him. All right? That's as clear as I can put it. The way of peace is ultimately found in the process of finding him. So we understand the reason for this peace, the process of finding peace is going to be found in him, the Son.

So all that by way of introduction. I hope we have that foundation as we then now begin to move our thoughts and our minds onto this process of finding him, ultimately, and finding first peace in us, in our hearts, and then ultimately peace on earth. But what about this peace process? What is the way? What are the means of finding peace?

Well, I propose again the way to peace is found in Luke 12 verses 49 through 53 where we began. So let's turn back there. In order to approach this passage, we had to build that foundation for us with regards to the absence of peace and the ultimate solution for it. So again, in looking at Luke 12 verses 49 through 53, we see this striking statement by Christ himself. Again, verse 49, he says, I came to send fire on the earth, how I wish it was already kindled. I have a baptism I need to be baptized with. How distressed I am until it's accomplished. Do you suppose I came to bring peace on earth? I tell you not at all, but rather division. And then he describes the division in our most sensitive areas here, the family. So it's such a striking passage here. And again, it might seem contradictory to the means of peace, but in fact it is. And you'll notice here that he really speaks of three things here. Before he comes to this question, do you think I came to bring peace on earth? Well, he says, not yet and perhaps not in the way you expect. And he mentions and gives us three things here. The process laid out in three things that will ultimately bring about peace on earth. And you'll notice he first speaks about verse 49, a fire. That's the number one fire on earth. The second thing he speaks about verse 50 is a baptism that he has to face. And the third is verse 51, a division that will come here. So these are the, we'll take these in turn, these are the three aspects about the process to peace here. And let me just give you a little bit more synopsis so you know where we're going with this. Three aspects regarding the way of bringing about peace on earth. It is going to be number one fire, and this is going to be the fire of testing or trial.

And it's going to bring about, this fire brings about two things. It's either going to purify or consume. Right? That's what we're going to talk about first, it's the fire of trial. Then we're going to talk about this baptism. This baptism that Christ was distressed with, it is ultimately the second aspect, the number two baptism, and it's the baptism of sacrifice and commitment.

And then the third aspect of bringing peace on earth mentioned here is division. Ultimately, division will come before peace and even to our most interpersonal relationships here. So we're going to take these in turn, but just be ready. We are going to be rocked back on our heels a little bit today with these three aspects, and it is going to be counterintuitive to what the world believes is going to be bring about peace on earth. But this is the truth from scripture, and this is ultimately what we need to preach here as we go forward. So number one, to consider fire. This is, again, the fire of testing, and this fire will bring about purification or consumption. Jesus says here, I came to bring fire how I wish it was already kindled. Fire is not a unique concept in scripture. Again, fire does at least two things physically, and it actually does two things spiritually. Fire, number one, consumes. We know that if anything's combustible, fire will consume it. Number two, fire purifies. So fire purifies that which is non-combustible. So it consumes and or it purifies. Again, precious metals are purified by fire. However, just about everything else is consumed by fire. And so this whole notion that Jesus is bringing fire, and he states he we wish it was already kindling here. He wish it was already coming about. So let's think in spiritual terms and see what he's actually referring to here. He is absolutely speaking about the purifying fire of testing that's going to bring about holiness in our lives. Or conversely, it's going to be the fire of God's judgment which will ultimately bring about consumption. Consumption. A judgment against evil here. A purifying against evil. And or a fire to purify the sin from his own. Again, you think about it. Why would Christ look forward to this fire? And I wish it were already kindled here. Well, it all points back to the foundation that we just said for ourselves. He is absolutely looking forward to the day in which evil and sin will be completely removed from the world. He longs for that day. Evil will be removed ushering in peace. Evil is the great enemy against peace. Sin is the great enemy against peace. So fire, the fire of testing, has to be part of the process, you see.

Fire, ironically, fire counterintuitive to our natural thinking is part of the process of bringing about peace on earth, you see. I came to send fire on the earth. How I wish it were already kindled here. And, you know, we, whenever you come to a passage like this, you have to let Scripture interpret Scripture to build this foundation. This is not a notion that He is introducing to them for the first time. In fact, John the Baptist, who prepared the way for him to come, for the Son to come, actually brought this same idea of fire. If you want to just stay here in Luke, but turn back to Luke chapter 3, if you will, in verse 9. Luke 3 verse 9. We're going to see that John the Baptist references fire. And again, we're looking at the first aspect to bring about peace on earth. And this first aspect is fire, and it's a fire of testing. And it's a fire that will bring about either two things, purification or consumption. Here it is. Luke 3 verse 9. John's going to start referencing this fire. Luke 3 verse 9. Now even the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Let your eyes go down to verse 16, if you will. Verse 16.

Staying here in chapter 3. John answered, verse 16, saying to all, I indeed baptize you with water. So John says, I baptize you with water. The one mightier than I is coming, that's the Son of God, whose strap, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

He says. So fire is the process, is part of the process of being baptized and making the commitment to God. Did you know that? Well, here it is some more. The Holy Spirit and fire. Look at the next verse, verse 17. Speaking of the Son, verse 17. His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor, gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. See? So there's this purification aspect of this fire of testing in our lives, testing and trial, and then there's this burning up aspect, this consumption aspect here.

So ultimately, we want to apply this to ourselves with the fire of testing. Is it bringing about a purification in your life, a holiness, or are you being consumed by it? You see? That's the question for us. And John did not come up with this notion himself. This has always been the message. Let me just show you one Old Testament reference to this. Go back to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. Malachi 3, in verse 2 and 3 here. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, chapter 3. This is kind of the bridge book to the New Testament here.

Again, this is very counter-cultural to man's thinking on how to bring peace on earth, but this is the truth of the Bible. Malachi 3, look at verses 2 and 3. Speaking of the the sun's coming. But who can endure the day of his coming, Malachi says. And who can stand when he appears, or he, speaking of Christ, is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap, he will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver.

He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let's stop there. So when Christ says, I'm bringing fire to the earth and how I wish it were already kindled, we're seeing. He's bringing fire to you and I, and ultimately to the world. And it's this fire that he hopes will bring about righteousness, will bring about an offering of ourselves of righteousness to him. But, you know, you have this dimension also of a consuming judgment.

The chaff will be burned up. So there is that dimension of the peace process of the fire-consuming judgment. Those who will not turn from sin, who do not repent, will be consumed in the end. Now, lest I be irresponsible, you can never talk about the consuming fire of God's judgment without also speaking of the enormous overarching grace from God and love and mercy.

God is not going to allow those individuals to stay in the graves. No, he's gonna, we know he's gonna raise them up in the second resurrection. Give them the opportunity to know peace through him. God is full of grace and mercy here. And we know that that is going to be on full display in the second resurrection.

So, yes, the chaff will be burned up. There is a consumption aspect to this fire of testing. But again, there's this purification or cleansing from it as well that will refine that of a righteous offering that we'll be able to give. If you know anything, and I know some of you have done studies on this of a silversmith who works with metals and fire.

They are so skilled in getting the fire just at the right temperature so as to purify the metal. And it burns off the dross. It burns off the impurities. And the silversmith considers his work complete only when he's able to look at the surface of the metal and see his reflection.

You know, no impurities in the metal. He's able to see his reflection. So, it's the wonderful picture here in Malachi of what Jesus Christ is doing in the lives of his own here. So, when Peter stands up in his day and says, brethren, my beloved, do not be surprised by the fiery trial which has come upon you.

This is that. This is that. We're all going through this testing of fire. In fact, the whole world is, but each one of us in this room. So, I'll ask you again, are you allowing this fire of testing to purify you? Or are you being consumed by it? I'll tell you what the longing is of the great silversmith, the great refiner. His hope for us is that it's refining us and it's removing the impurities which are preventing peace to come in. We know the great enemy of peace is sin.

And before peace can come on earth, the the the dross, the sin, the impurities have to be removed. And that comes by testing. It comes by way of fire and it's hard earned. Why the magnitude? Why such strong means to begin this process toward peace? Well, think of think of the magnitude that it's going up against. You know, this world is turned upside down and God is in the process of turning it right side up, you see.

So, the means to bring about peace, the magnitude has to match that which it's reversing, you see.

And so, again, the great refiner here, picturing the Son of God, he longs to see His face reflected in us, in our lives. That will slowly begin this process of peace. And it's difficult. True peace can only come when evil and sin are undone and destroyed. So, you understand these words. Jesus Christ says, don't think I came to give peace on earth. Not yet. Not yet. Fire must come first and it's a fire of testing, he says. We got to get rid of the great enemy of peace here. So, again, peace on earth is not going to come by simply imagining it. It's not going to come from well-intentioned man-made programs or constructs.

Those are help aids and we need to participate in those things, absolutely. But ultimately, it's not going to come from those things. The way of peace, the first aspect is fire. Fire from testing, purification or consumption. Number two, the second aspect in the peace process, as we mentioned, is baptism.

So, if you'd like to turn back to Luke 12, verse 50, we see this is what he begins to speak of next when he says, Luke 12, verse 50, after speaking about the fire, he says, and I have a baptism, Luke 12, verse 50, a baptism to be baptized with and how distressed I am till it is accomplished here.

So, baptism is the second aspect about bringing peace to the earth. And this again is the baptism of sacrifice. It is a baptism of crucifixion. It is a baptism of commitment. You'll notice he's distressed by this. So, this is not the, he's not referring to the baptism that John the Baptist enacted in his life. Now, this is the baptism of his pending crucifixion. So, the way to true peace is by root of his sacrifice. No man or woman will ever find peace without being brought to the crushing experience of his baptism and sacrifice. And it's going to be ultimately also our baptism of sacrifice and commitment as well.

So, there's a fire. I wish it was already kindled. And there's this baptism I need to endure. I'm distressed, but until it's accomplished here. And this baptism of his crucifixion is actually also mentioned in Scripture.

Keep your marker here again. Let's turn over to Mark chapter 10. And we're going to begin reading verses 35 through 40. Here, Mark 10, verse 35 through 40, the Gospel writer Mark is going to record Jesus's words. And the disciples don't understand the gravity of this baptism of sacrifice. But he looks to help them understand. Mark 10, let's begin reading in verse 35 here.

This is powerful as Christ speaks of this. Mark 10, verse 35, then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. And he said to them, what do you want me to do for you? And he said to them, and they said to him, grant us that we may sit one on your right hand and the other on your left in your glory. Verse 38, but Jesus said to them, you do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And remarkably, they said to him, we are able. So Jesus said to them, you will indeed drink the cup that I drink. And with the baptism I am baptized with, you will be baptized. But to sit on my right hand or to sit on my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared. Let's stop there. So here they are asking, you know, to be with Christ in glory, and he's setting their minds straight on that process.

You know, Jesus Christ was mocked, scourged, crucified in his baptism on the crucifixion. It was the cup he had to drink of. He was baptized with this baptism on the cross. He hung to bring about reconciliation for mankind, to open up the opportunity for peace to the wicked. He stood in the place of sinners, took their penalty, their punishment, so that they may be forgiven, so that the gift of eternal peace would be offered to them.

This is how committed Christ was, that we not be separated from the Father. So it isn't that peace is without cost. It's absolutely with cost. Peace comes with a price, the ultimate price. So let's bring it personal. There will be no peace without the baptism of sacrifice, neither for Christ nor for his people. Though we have to accept this. We have to receive this. There will be no peace without the baptism of sacrifice and commitment.

It wasn't the case for the Son of God, and it will not be the case for his people. I have a baptism to undergo. Again, this is not the baptism in the Jordan. This is the baptism of sacrifice and commitment, bending his will to the Father.

And that's what he's saying to his dear friends here. There's a fire of testing, coming. I wish it was already kindled. And there's a baptism of crucifixion and sacrifice and commitment that is going to be undergone. I'm distressed about it here. This cup. I mean, he says, you will indeed drink the cup that I drink. And with the baptism I am baptized with, he says, you will be baptized. So here it is. These are the first two aspects of the peace process. Again, you see how counterintuitive it is to the man's natural thinking.

And we wanted to spend time on those first two aspects before we get to this third aspect in which he now comes here back in Luke 12 here. This third aspect of division.

Luke 12, of course, okay, the way of peace. I came to bring fire on earth. I have a baptism to be baptized with. Then verse 51 of Luke 12, do you suppose I came to give peace on earth? Not yet. No, I tell you not at all, but rather division. Division here. You will first be divided even in the places of your most tender areas, your family.

And we don't need to rehearse this again. Under the same household there, verse 52, you have these fractions that occur and you see the relational aspects there of father against son and so on, mother against daughter. So division comes before peace on earth.

We can never accuse him of not telling us like it is, I think. You know, he speaks in such a way that's very clear. He says division first here, division before peace.

And so we want to turn our minds over to this third aspect for just a moment. And I want to look at the parallel gospel passage. It's found in Matthew 10 verses 34 through 39 here as we think about division. And again, it's very counterintuitive to our natural thinking.

There's a paradox here. But look at Matthew 10. Let's read the parallel gospel passage of Matthew's recording of Christ's words. So we have fire before peace on earth. We have this baptism before peace on earth and now division before the peace on earth here. Matthew 10 beginning in verse 34, do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, daughter-in-law and a man's enemies will be those of his own household. And here Matthew adds further understanding here. Verse 37, for he who loves father or his mother more than me is not worthy of me and he who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Verse 38, and he who does not take his cross and follow me and follow after me is not worthy of me. Verse 39, he who finds his life on this earth now will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Stop there. Again, you know, these are seemingly obvious contradictions here.

He who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me here.

And he says, in fact, I set them against them. And if you look at the original words there, there's going to be an alienation, he says, an alienation under the households. Staggering statements. So do we not love our children more than anything? Yes, with a passion.

Is God highly concerned with family relationships? Absolutely. God is family, right? Honor thy father and mother, that your days may be long on the earth. And so what is he saying here? Is he overturning that instruction with new instruction here? I don't believe so. I think the key to this understanding is driven in this verse 38. He who does not take his or her cross, that's the baptism of sacrifice and commitment, he or her cross, who does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. And unless you're prepared to lose your life, you will not find it here. So what's his point? What's the point? What's the understanding of this division here? Well, I think this is a radical call. This is a divisive call. He's not saying that his primary motive is to turn mothers against daughters or fathers against son. Not at all. But I believe what he is stating here is that one of the effects of the gospel is just this. When the call of God revolutionizes a life, it's so transforming, so revolutionary, so altering at the very core of our values and focus. When that change takes place, there will be inevitable clash, not only with society, but even in the very relationships that are nearest and dearest to us. So it's not that those who come to Christ turn against their family members. That's not the case. That would be a cult. You know, if you hear anyone say, don't call your daughter, don't call your son, or don't call your mother or father, don't listen to that. That's not this. That's not this. What Christ is saying is that when a member of the family comes to trust resolutely in Jesus Christ, there will be an inevitable division that will take place because the things that we loved before have passed away. We're no longer that individual. We're a new man, a new woman in Christ. So we pour out our love for all of our loved ones and keep them close until our last day on earth. But so many of us experience it. We know what Christ is speaking about here. Some of us experience division, and it's heartbreaking, but that's what we're seeing, and that's what we're experiencing, and that is something that we need to be prepared for as we accept this call from God through Christ with that division and separation is sometimes a reality.

So you see how radically different this is from man's understanding of peace. I would be remorseful if I didn't mention this song, which I believe is the mantra of man's understanding of the way of peace. Perhaps you're ahead of me. This song that I'm about to reference, whenever you see war break out or any kind of tension, this song comes to the forefront every time. Imagine from the Beatles. I'm not going to sing it to you. Let me give you the lyrics here. Let me give you the lyrics. This is man's way to peace. This is man's means to bring peace on earth, and it's absolutely counter to God's way of peace. Imagine, quote, imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky. Imagine all the people living for today. Imagine there's no countries. It's not hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say, I'm a dreamer. I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. So, Lenin, no doubt, sat down and wrote these lyrics with good intentions, I would say, but totally missing the mark. You see, see, this is his and really mankind's anthem to bring the world as one, he says. They long for peace. They don't, they can't find it. And so, at the very heart of these lyrics is an end, the solution, mankind's solution for peace on earth is an end to religion. In other words, get rid of God, and get rid of his son, the Prince of Peace. So, the devil has convinced the people that the answer is the problem. Convinced humanity that God and Christ are the problem in achieving peace when in fact they're the only answer, you see. You remember when Christ wept over Jerusalem? What came forth from his heart was if they had only known, if they had only known the things that make for peace. And he wept. And they didn't know. So many in the world do not know. They don't come to the peacemaker, the Prince of Peace.

So, they won't find it. But while they don't come, we must, you see, we must.

And as we begin to conclude, I just want to emphasize the fact that God is so gracious, so loving, that this book and mankind's story does not end in division. It doesn't end in division. In fact, a merciful God paints this picture of him raising up back to physical life and a gathering up and a gathering together of the vast innumerable company of men and women to begin to teach them the way of peace. And God willing, we will be there to help in that education process. And so, it's our responsibility now to accept, to accept the way to peace through the fire of testing, our baptism in testing, and our commitment to experience division in the end.

Until that day when all the world can be reconciled, our time is now to show the refiner's face through us as he looks and sees his reflection in us, to bear under the baptism of his sacrifice, to allow the testing to purify us and not consume us, and to be prepared for the difficulty of inevitable division before the world can come together in peace. Our time is now. So, in conclusion, peace will not be discovered in even well-intentioned programs or strategies or social constructs. Peace will not come about or be discovered by simply imagining it. No, peace can only be discovered in one person. That's the Son of God. He is the way of peace.