The Peace Treaty

I remember a movie on television a while back, about a Japanese man who'd been on a deserted island in the south Pacific for many years.  In fact, he'd been the sole survivor of an attack during WWII, and the news had never come to him about the Allies' victory and the end of the war.  Decades later, when a group of people tried to convince him that his people had surrendered long ago, he refused to believe and carried on at war with anyone who set foot on his tiny island.

This soldier had no idea that someone had made a treaty for peace on behalf of him and his country.  His people were no longer at war with America; on the contrary, the two countries were tied together industrially and economically.  Imagine how difficult it was for this old man to comprehend... everything had changed.

Man has been at odds with God since Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden due to their rebellion. Some people interpret this act of God as mean or impulsive--but within this exchange in Genesis 3, are three incredible acts of mercy:

1. God chose to cover their nakedness with animal skin instead of the fig leaves they'd chosen.  Although there is no particular mention of it, the implication is that God Himself killed the animal(s) making the first blood sacrfice in order to cover sin.
2. When Adam & Eve had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they obtained knowledge that was not meant for them.  Had they partaken of the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in their sinful state, and that was not God's plan.
3. As God passed judgment on the serpent, He prophesied about the Redeemer who would one day come and make things right between man and God.

Just as God promised, the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus, brought reconciliation to sinners who put their faith in Him.  Though we were once enemies of God, we are no longer.  It's as if we were the old soldier who continued to fight a war we didn't know was over, except when we did receive the Good News, we believed and rejoiced!  The peace treaty with our Heavenly Father has been signed in the blood of His Son, and we are the beneficiaries through His grace.

Understanding this concept is the first step to finding Peace With God.  When we humble ourselves before Him and realize we have nothing to offer but our sinful selves, we are able to receive His righteousness in return.

"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Next post:  Are we still sinners?











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