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DEVOTION / Seeking a city of peace

DEVOTION / Seeking a city of peace

Blog, Devotions

I need some PEACE and QUIET!

Familiar words? Ever caught yourself screaming those words in your mind? Or maybe flowing from your lips? Countless men and women have exclaimed these words. Anyone remember the frazzled housewife pleading, "Calgon, take me away!"

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The quest for peace seems part of the human condition. Ultimate peace was lost in the Garden of Eden through sin. Now we seek a refuge of peace in our frantic fallen world.

Jerusalem, "City of Peace"

Jerusalem, the Bible city, is denoted as a place of peace. Today that seems ironic with the constant contention between Islamic and Jewish sentiments. The pages of the Old and New Testaments reference this city 955 times. It has a storied past. It was on the site of Jerusalem that:

  • Abraham sacrificed Isaac (Genesis 22)

  • David defeated the Jebusites for control of the city (2 Samuel 5:6)

  • The Ark of the Covenant was brought (1 Chronicles 15)

  • Solomon's Temple was built (2 Chronicles 3)

  • City was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:10)

  • Jesus was betrayed and crucified (Gospel accounts)

  • Jesus’ resurrection, appearances, and ascension took place (Gospel accounts, Acts 1:6-11)

  • Pentecost launched the worldwide spread of the Gospel (Acts 2)

Later Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans . . . the Crusades, continuing conflicts, and terror attacks.

Jerusalem around the world

The longing for a "city of peace" is reflected across the globe. Twelve American states — Vermont, Utah, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Maryland, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama — have cities named Jerusalem. Worldwide, Jerusalems are found in 21 countries.*

  • 12 in the USA

  • 5 in Mexico

  • 3 in Brazil

  • 2 in Germany and Angola

  • 1 in Belgium, Bolivia, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, Israel, Jamaica, Liberia, Nigeria, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, and Venezuela.

Find true peace in the "New" Jerusalem

Despite all the earthly attempts to establish a "new" Jerusalem and find peace, our loving Lord points us to a heavenly Jerusalem. Consider these New Testament passages:

  • …our mother-city is the heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26).

  • …he will be a citizen in the city of my God—the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from my God; and he will have my new Name inscribed upon him (Revelation 3:12).

  • …the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding (Revelation 21:2).

Peace is coming

The Prince of Peace — our Jesus — is coming. He says he is coming back soon. Then the true “city of peace” will be established. Despite the conflicts, persecutions, and trials of this world, Almighty God will restore things to be the way they were designed to be; God's people will be at one with him and each other. Our home will be with God and there will be peace forever.

Prayer: Dear Lord, comfort us with the promise of the New Jerusalem. Refresh us with the sure hope of your return and our salvation.

Source: Dave Payne

*Reference: https://geotargit.com/called.php?qcity=Jerusalem