World “Peace”

by Johan Leach

It is well with my soul. 

As I sit here meditating on the Goodness of our Lord, I cannot but marvel at His Greatness while observing my surroundings. This is no small matter as I observe and ponder at His detail in creation. 

It is quiet here…no human voices, only the intermittent far cry of a fish eagle down river somewhere, breaking this silence. 

A quiet morning on the banks of the Zambezi River.

I say ‘silence’ and ‘quiet’ as compared to the city, where the endless hustle and bustle permeates and interferes in the very existence of life.

The screaming sirens of disaster, hurt and despair, the laughing of short lived joys and the cries of pain and disappointments. All this dulls our senses and deafens our hearing to that still small voice of reason. 

The endless hustle and bustle of Lusaka, Zambia.

As I sit here along the river bank on the mosaic of the forest’s ferny floor, the silence is complemented with the symphonic coalition and combinations of voices and instruments, carried on the wisps of the wind as it navigates cautiously through the branches and leaves of the ancient Mukwa trees, giving homage to the Creator. 

The timeous, cacophonic sound of insects and birds in harmony, as if conducted by the Great Architect Himself, sing His Praises.

Then silence…..only to be broken by the timely leap of fish breaking the surface of the now fast flowing Zambezi River, feeding on a sumptuous meal of unsuspecting dragonfly, punctuated by the falling monotonous and dull sound of my computer keys recording this moment. 

Sunday morning, and I have spent some time praying, reading and meditating on God’s Word. 

My systematic reading of the Bible brought me to the Book of Revelation, highlighting chapter six through to twelve and then onward to chapter nineteen where the Word Reveals a seemingly chaotic and dangerous time. 

A time in this world which reminds of the present. 

Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Wars and rumours of wars. Famine, Pestilence, Greed, Lust, Anarchy…….never in the history of the world has the intensity of death and destruction been so intense. 

Yet as I read the closing chapters of nineteen to twenty two I realise that in all of what seems chaotic, dangerous and brutal, our Creator God is in charge and in control.

In and through this mayhem He has not only informed us of what is, or is to come BUT, makes a way of escape for His children and then a Promise of Eternity in a new heaven and new earth with Him. 

Johan, a missionary sent to the remote outpost of Chavuma, Zambia and beyond to declare the Good News.

For me, a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, an apostle (missionary), sent to this remote outpost to evangelise, declare and entrench Christ’s teachings, training and equipping many who will through the empowering of His Holy Spirit take the Good News of Salvation through Christ Jesus further and further afield, the latter part of the closing chapter, chapter twenty two verses sixteen and seventeen speaks the loudest. 

Jesus says; ‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ The Spirit and the Bride say ‘come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. 

It is in these finishing words where I find the answer to a dying, dangerous, chaotic and vicious world.

Jesus. 

Remember He, Jesus, Created the Heavens and the Earth as we know it. 

He, Jesus, the only begotten Son of our Heavenly Father, the Messiah, the only Saviour for all mankind, died and rose again conquering death so we may live. 

He, Jesus, who in the closing of the Book of Revelation reiterates once more that man has the free choice to ‘come.’ To escape the disaster that awaits all those who have rejected them. The answer is in and through Him, Jesus. 

‘Come all you who are heavy burdened and I (Jesus) will give you rest.’ 

Reflection

So now my call…..no OUR CALL as children of God, is; 

 To take the Peace (Christ Jesus) of God, His Good News, to our family, our friends, our neighbours, our schools, our country and to the ends of the earth. It is a simple yet powerful message. 

 To do the works of a saint; visit those in prison, clothe those who are naked, feed those who are hungry, give water to those who thirst, welcome the stranger, take care of the sick, look after the widow and orphan….. 

 To Love our neighbours as ourselves and to Love one another in the Body of Christ as He Loved us. 

The church has been given the Great Commission by our Conquering Messiah, Christ Jesus, to GO and take a Living Message of Hope to a dying world (Math 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18) 

We do not do this in our own strength and knowledge but ‘The Church’ has been given the Power to do this by and through His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) 

Challenge (to fellow Pilgrims who have grown weak and weary) 

Stand Up! Do not grow weary in doing well, do not surrender in the fight…..but once more put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee, the lifter of your head, the author and finisher of your faith. Repent of your weakness and let Him make you strong, for the battle is His the victory yours.

Rise up you champions of God, rise up you royal nation and let Him lead you into the Promised Land. Then in obedience step out in faith and share the Good News with others. 

Challenge (to those without Christ) 

Friend, are you anxious, depressed or fearful of what is happening in the world today? 

Does your personal life seem meaningless? 

When you seriously consider your own condition and yet, while trying to justify your position do you find yourself wanting? When with brutal honesty you find yourself a wretched, selfish individual with no answers to your dilemma, it is then time to ‘lift your eyes to the mountains from where your help will come.’ 

Let me point you to the One who took away my doubts, depression, anxieties and fear, who pulled me out of the quicksand of death and firmly placed me on the rock where my foundation is strong, who gave me His plan and purpose for my life of which I walk with joy and victory this very day. 

His name is Christ Jesus.

King of kings and Lord of Lords. Who spelt out my course before time and revealed it to me in the mysteries of His written Word the Bible, who assured a way of escape for me from eternal death and damnation after life on earth, to be and LIVE with Him in everlasting eternity. 

If you search for Him, He will find you. Go on your knees now. Cry out to the God of ALL creation with that broken spirit and contrite heart which is in you.

Confess all your sins to Him, repent of these sins, unconditionally accept Him as Lord and Saviour of your life and He WILL answer you this day and give you Peace. 

It is well with my soul. 

Shalom. Salute. 

 

Johan and Lesley Leach live and minister in remote Chavuma, Zambia, equipping teams to cross the Zambezi River into the isolated and remote area between the river and the Angola border and share the gospel in the villages.