The Hebrew word for peace is "shalom." This term refers to far more than the absence of war, conflict or stress. Shalom's basic meaning is the positive presence of harmony, wholeness, good purpose, well-being and contentment in all areas of life. Experiencing peace can include unity, cooperation and contentment in human relations, both inside the home and outside the home. It can refer to one's personal sense of wholeness and well-being, including freedom from anxiety and fear. This might be called peace within one's own soul and with God. Even though the word "shalom" is not used in Genesis 1-2, shalom describes the original created world that existed in perfect harmony and wholeness. When God created the heavens and the earth, He created a world at peace. The total well-being of creation is reflected in the statement: "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
When Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, were deceived by satan and ate from the forbidden tree, their disobedience introduced sin. In turn, sin broke the flow and order of creation's original harmony. When that happened, Adam and Eve experienced guilt and shame for the first time in relation to God, and they lost their inner peace.
Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden destroyed their perfect relationship with God. Before their disobedience, they enjoyed a deep personal relationship and close interaction with God. But after their sin, they "hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden". Instead of looking forward to talking with God, they now were afraid of His presence.
They traded their peace with God for the false and temporary pleasure of their own way. In addition, the peaceful and pleasant relationship between Adam and Eve as husband and wife was disrupted also. When God began discussing their sin with them, Adam blamed Eve. God said that this sort of tension and conflict would continue between man and woman. In fact, this sort of tension in relationships accounts for much of the social conflict that is now part of the human existence. This social conflict ranges from arguments and violence in our homes.
Finally, sin took away the harmony and unity between humankind and nature. Before Adam sinned, his work in the Garden of Eden was a pleasure; he freely walked among the animals, giving each one a name. However, following the fall, part of God's curse included anger and hatred between people and the serpent. In addition, people's work would involve sweat, exhaustion and hard, physical labor. Where there once had been harmony between the human race and the environment, there was now struggle and conflict, so that "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time".
Though sin affected human existence by destroying peace and well-being in the entire created world, God had planned to restore "shalom." The story of restoring peace is what the life and message of Jesus Christ is all about. God sent Jesus into the world to make a way for peace between people and God. Christ came to provide forgiveness and freedom from sin and the hope of a personal and eternal relationship with God. Since satan started the destruction of peace in our world, his power needed to be destroyed in order to regain and restore peace on earth. In fact, many of the Old Testament promises about the coming of the Messiah were promises of a coming victory and peace.
When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed that God's peace had now come to the earth. Jesus himself came to destroy the devil's work and to break down all barriers of conflict that prevent peace in our lives. Jesus left His disciples a lasting legacy of peace. By His death and resurrection, Jesus literally disarmed, or removed the impact of satan's powers and authorities in the spiritual realm, making true spiritual peace possible.
Knowing that Christ came as the Prince of Peace does not automatically bring peace to our lives. Experiencing peace with God requires that we be united with Christ by faith. This belief is more than an intellectual agreement. It is an active trust by which a person accepts Christ's sacrifice and surrenders control of his or her life to Christ's leadership. A person who responds to Christ in this way is forgiven and justified through faith. Along with faith, we must follow God's guidelines and obey His commands in order to live in peace. The Old Testament prophets declared over and over that there is no real peace for the wicked. In order to experience continually God's peace, He has given us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit develops the holy character and purposes of God in us, which include God's peace. With the Spirit's help, we must pray for peace, let peace guide our hearts, desire and pursue peace and do our best to live in peace with others.
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