“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

In a world where a state or condition of peace appears entirely elusive, it is up to those of us who are connected with the source of true and lasting peace to lead the way. The angel’s pronouncement, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14) was no mere sentimental platitude to be mass produced on greeting cards! God has made a way for us to experience His peace...lasting peace...unfathomable peace through the gift of His Son.

Today, I am reminded of the deficit of peace in our world...dare I say even amidst believers. Today, the USA will go to the voting stations, at least those who have not already done so, to elect the party and individual who will serve as President for the next four years. The vitriol is rife and has even caught up many north of the American border. Both sides fear the outcome should their preferred candidate and party lose. Folks may I provide a reality check? Human systems cannot save or produce peace, no matter what name they go by or platform they stand on.

But there is a people group that holds the answer. If you are a follower of Christ, you must learn how to be politically minded while still retaining the ‘higher qualities’ demanded by God of His children. Not only is one of God’s expectations that we tell others about Christ–the Prince of Peace–but we are also to let His peace ‘rule in our hearts.’ I am afraid that the current fear mongering, the accusations and the lack of overall Christian character by some who claim the name of Christ has done much to tarnish His good name.
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Unfortunately, the pronouncement that is likely to come at the end of the day is not going to miraculously change attitudes. We have forgotten who is Sovereign, regardless of who holds political power, and what one of our jobs as the Church is–we are to shine a light in the dark, not sling mud on those who hold to a different opinion. Want to see reform in our world? Commit to knowing and sharing the peace that can only come through a relationship with Jesus–He’s the only One capable of bringing about the change needed in our world...yesterday, today and forever!
~ Pastor Jane

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes...Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:11, 15).
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Those of us who have chosen to become disciples of Jesus sometimes act as though we’ve been instructed to strap on the ‘seat cushion’ of ease or to slip into the ‘bunny slippers’ of comfort. The truth of the matter, however, is that we are to be ‘ready to move’ in order to share the peace we have come to experience. Once we’ve joined God’s army, our goal is not just to take a self-protective stance against the enemy, but to jump literally into the fray to rescue those who don’t know about how they can experience God’s forgiveness and join the winning side. The movie, “Hacksaw Ridge” provides a wonderful and yet disturbingly realistic analogy of what our work in the spiritual realm should look like.

The movie is based on the real life events of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, who joined the military as a medic in World War II. He refused to carry any weapon of any kind. This notably made him a pariah with his fellow soldiers and attempts were made to have him quit the military before his training was complete. But Doss persevered. He was sent overseas with his unit and was part of an offensive that was tasked to take and secure the infamous ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ from the Japanese, who were brutally efficient in their defense of the Maeda Escarpment.

The Japanese launched an aggressive counterattack, resulting in heavy numbers of American casualties. In the midst of the offensive, Desmond runs through the enemy lines and arrives at a place of safety, only to discover that most of his unit has not. He could have scampered down the rope ladder to safety and thanked God for preserving his life. But that is not how Desmond responded to his rescue from the enemy. Throughout the long night, Desmond is heard praying over and over again, “Just one more, Lord...help me get just one more” as he returns repeatedly back into enemy territory searching for the members of his unit in order to carry them out one by one, hoist them over the cliff and let them down into the safety of friendly arms.

Repeatedly during that long night he put himself in harm’s way, with no weapon for protection, just his repeated prayer to God, “Just one more, Lord...help me get just one more!” Desmond Doss is the only conscientious objector to ever be awarded the “Medal of Honour” and for good reason. During the course of that one night, Desmond Doss’s heroic work to save his dying unit resulted in the rescue of 75 individuals who would have otherwise perished of their wounds or at the hands of the Japanese army.

If we could see the spiritual realm as we do the physical world around us, we might be surprised and horrified to find out how closely it resembles an active battle field. We need to open our ears to the cries of the dying and our eyes to the death and decay all around us. Rather than merely thanking God for our own rescue from an enemy who was intent on our eternal death, we need to be ready to run back into enemy territory with Desmond’s prayer on our lips, “Just one more, Lord...help me get just one more!”
​~ Pastor Jane