A Perverted Peace

We live in a great country, a country known world-wide for many things. We are a wealthy country. We are a free country and we are a powerful country. Our military strength is legendary and well-funded, the financial support of which has become fodder for every presidential campaign in past elections. Given the number of wars we have been engaged in during this century, it is amazing that we are still seen as a nation of peace.
It seems to me that most of us have a skewed definition of peace. We seem to believe that as long as the war is not on our home ground we are at peace. Or that when we are not engaged in military conflict, we are at peace. When there are no bombs in the cars out in front of our house and no soldiers marching down our streets, no tanks in our allies. When we can go to worship without fear, without hiding, without disguise, we think----we are at peace. In the movie, Air Force One, Harrison Ford as President James Marshall, makes this statement: "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice."
Justice--defined as "moral rightness, adherence to a moral standard manifested in conduct", seems to be lacking in our society. There are many who should be punished, who are not, and many who should not be punished who are. There are people who are abused and hurt, people who are used and taken advantage of. The news is rife with accounts of frivolous lawsuits, wealth and privilege allowing for an escape from consequences. There is injustice everywhere we turn. While we are still, in my opinion, the greatest country on earth, we live surrounded by injustice. We pass laws, introduce bills and enforce statutes and still there is injustice. Man's best attempts at justice fall way short and we are left with a perverse sense of peace.
Isaiah 30:18 says "the Lord is a God of justice." Isaiah 61 tells us that He loves justice. Throughout the ages, biblical writers have chronicled the justice of God. He is the standard, the moral code. His is the path to peace. When we deviate from His standard, from His will, from His code, we are destined for injustice and unrest. We will never be a country at peace until we return to God. Proverbs 39:4 tells us that justice stabilizes a country. That stabilization--well, it equals peace. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and teachers of the law with the scathing statement, "you neglect justice and the love of God". Without God, there is no justice, without justice there is no peace. We are either delusional or simply wishful thinking to believe otherwise.

"Peace"
Neva

Amos 5:24 "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."
Psalm 85:10 "Righteousness and peace kiss each other."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . "