"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27.

There has never been an instance when battles were not raging somewhere on our globe. According to Jesus, there shall be wars and rumors of wars before His return. Until then, though humanity's universal cry is for peace, there shall be no peace. The Apostle Paul was negative about the world achieving peace without Jesus Christ. He wrote, "For when they shall say, Peace and safety: then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a women with child; and they shall not escape" (1st Thessalonians 5:3).

Scriptures speak of several categories of peace.

1. The peace represented above refers to a cessation of hostilities between warring nations. It is a fragile peace, dependent on the inclinations of politicians and rulers. International organizations, such as The United Nations, were formed in an endeavor to channel these inclinations toward peace. All are dismal failures, as all future attempts to achieve peace without Jesus Christ shall be. It is these failures to achieve a permanent international peace that shall deceive mankind into accepting the Antichrist.

2. A second category of peace is that between individuals. For those who follow Jesus Christ this is a mandated peace directive. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 14, the Apostle Paul writes, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." This believer's peace directive is sustained by our having holy relationships with others, both believers and unbelievers.

3. A third category of peace is the peace of God. It is a supernatural peace imparted by God to those who commune with Him in prayer. This is God's own profound peace, inexplicable even to those to who experience it. The Apostle Paul described this peace as a peace beyond human understanding. "Be careful for nothing [literally: Do not worry about anything]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep [literally: protect as a sentinel] your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:6-7).

4. Peace with God is the final category of peace considered in this short article. It is a peace that defines a person's status with God, after having ceased all hostilities towards Him by accepting Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and men. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1.)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1st Timothy 2:5).

Vis- -vis world peace, the human race disregards the actuality; until mankind is at peace with God, genuine peace shall continue to elude them. Humanity first must accept the Prince of Peace in order to enjoy the blessings of world peace.

Josprel (Joseph Perrello)