Dysfunction is a new normal in the modern era, people are more interested in fixing their cars than the society. There was a time when people expressed their disagreements through fasting, now the response is violence everywhere. Atrocities are vastly increasing and oppression has been a super power ever since. From a nuclear family in a small village to national bodies, there is no peace. Does human life really matter anymore? People themselves are so lost that they lack meaningful goals in life, does a man know his purpose?
"It's offensive" said a 13 year old daughter to her mother, "You can't question my choices, I need privacy" she continued.
"Can't they make this legal? What's taking them so long! If the management doesn't take action I'm left with no choice but to act" said an 18 year old involved in rivals in his college.
"This is my house, I do whatever I want, who are you to question me?" a father of 3 children yelled at his in-laws when pleaded not to abuse their daughter and the little ones.
"This is my country, I have right to speech and express my ideas" exclaimed a people’s representative, in defence for his attack on a civilian who was found dressed in their faith attire.
"Let's make a monument of peace in the region" concluded an authoritative group and then proceeds to vacate the poor in the land and create havoc among those who don't cooperate for the construction.
Whether or not the above stated dialogues are fictional, how many people and incidents crossed your mind reading these? Rebellion is the beginning of destruction. The land loses its peace if mouth is defiled. Where can one find justice in a land where the very ones who are supposed to lead us in the right way rebel against the law, against the human rights, and against the nature and the Creator Himself?
Woe to him who strives with his Master! .... Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making? Or shall the handiwork say 'He has no hands?' Woe to him who says to his father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to the woman 'What have you brought forth?' [1]
Righteousness is the quality of being morally right and justifiable. Of course a man can never find a perfectly righteous leader, whether at home or in the country. Salvation is the state of being preserved from harm or sin or death or all. Again, one cannot find it on Earth, is there a place where you cannot find evil, of course not. Peace is a state of mind which is stress-free and calm, where there is perfect harmony and freedom. How many can strongly say 'I have peace' every single day? Now these three important qualities (righteousness, salvation, peace), which are essential for humans to live and co-exist, are lacking everywhere because of the feeble sources, constant re-filling and exhaustion. Running after courts to seek justice but ending up emptying pockets, running after fleshly pleasures but losing one's self worth and health, running away from problems in life and constantly shifting people, jobs, locations etc., it's a never-ending futile cycle.
Everyone at one point in their lives is so tired and stop seeking. Either they become bitter or better, in response to their circumstances. One wants to overpower the other somehow, for many it's not humility and peace but oppression and vengeance, and it's carried on to generations. Did this thought ever strike your mind, 'It should break with me, my current and next generation should live peacefully.' Many start off with the same thought but are not successful, since humility and peace-making is considered an act of timidity by the society. 'The more power I exhibit, the more control I can have over the others' - is the ideology of many and it actually begins at school. Who is there to correct the little one? The guardians are proud of their off-spring resembling them, it's exhausting to even analyze how far we've gone and it seems like there's no turning back. But it doesn't have to end that way.
I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord do all these things. Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it. [2]
What a reminder that there is still hope in this world and that 'hope' cannot be found around but above. 'Hope' that doesn't put us to shame or disappointment but it is the 'hope' which is very breath of life. What a free gift from above, the earth only has to open to receive, in the same way our hearts only have to let in to receive this Salvation, and thereby comes the righteousness and peace. For the one who doesn't receive the light, only darkness is left, and for the rebellious only calamity. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit against the creator will be brought down.
For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create in vain, who formed it to be inhabited:
"I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth;
I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain';
I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare the things that are right.
Assemble yourselves and come;
Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations.
They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image,
And pray to a god that cannot save.
Tell and bring forth your case; Yes let them take counsel together.
Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time?
Have not I, the Lord? And there is no God besides Me,
A Just God and a Saviour; There is none beside Me.
Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, And shall not return,
That to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.
He shall say, 'Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.' [3]
Do you want this Prince of Peace into your life, who shall rule with righteousness and brings along with Him the salvation that generates hope? Jesus offers us His own peace which is not of the world and which surpasses all understanding.
Jesus said "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." [4]
He meets you just where you are, you don't have to pay anything or make yourselves worthy enough, if you just believe this word is true, you shall receive. Can you say this with me? - Your first prayer
References
Well written