"For the Law will go forth from Zion. And the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war." Isaiah 2:3-4

Man’s recorded history spans almost 6000 years, and of that time there has been less than 300 years of peace. It seems there is always war being waged somewhere on our planet. The earth itself is stained and defiled with the blood of the fallen. When Cain killed his brother Abel the Lord said that the blood was crying out to Him from the earth on which it was spilled.

 But as our text prophesies, peace is coming. A time is coming when war will be a thing of the past. After Jesus returns and establishes the Kingdom of God on the earth, the world will see true peace.

When we contemplate peace it is easy to see it’s value. Considering our personal lives we might ask, "how important is it for us to live in peace?" Where there is no peace there is anxiety, uncertainty and conflict. When peace does not rule our lives we live in a constant state of unrest. It is a condition where our thoughts and fears wage war with our emotions. But we need not live this way.

Perhaps we can do little but wait for the Lord’s return in regards to unrest in the world, but personally, we can have peace now. When Jesus was arrested and crucified, the disciples were initially in disarray. They were confused and had little rest for their souls. But the risen Jesus appeared to them saying, -"Peace be with you." This was a timely Word from the Lord who knew they needed comforting.

Jesus often counseled His disciples to let go of fear that robbed them of their peace. During a storm at sea his disciples were frantic, believing that they were about to go down with their ship, yet Jesus plainly and sternly asked, -"Why do you fear? Where is you faith?"

Jesus spoke as if fear is a choice. He repeatedly instructed his disciples to not fear.

 Perhaps we cannot stop fear and anxiety from knocking at our door, but we don’t have to let it in. When fear and anxiety comes in peace goes out.

Jesus told His disciples about the horrific things that they were going to experience as they went forth to preach the Gospel. He told them that they would suffer persecution, be arrested and mistreated and eventually killed as martyrs of the faith. Even in all this,

 Jesus told them to not worry but live in peace. This tells us that fear or peace is not in our circumstances One day peace will come to the warring nations, but we can allow peace to come to us today - choose peace.