What is Shalom? Where does it exist? Is it easy or hard to
achieve?
Webster’s dictionary defines it as a Jewish Greeting and of
Farewell.
Is there a deeper understanding to it?
Strong’s concordance 7965 in the Hebrew shalom שָׁלוֹם defines it as completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
- · completeness in number
- · safety, soundness, in body
- · peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment,
peace,
friendship:
- 1. as in human relations
- 2. peace with God, especially in covenant relationship
- 3. peace from war
So what is this peace that
the world is always searching for in todays day that has not been
achieved? Where we see divorce, murders, thefts, riots, hatred, anger,
beatings, abuse, starvation, legal matters in court to be made whole, disease, sickness,
homelessness, perversion and all of the likeness of these things that are rampant; at an all time high, never seen
in the highest forms as the world has ever seen it.
We live in a world of
technology and knowledge, where at our fingertips we can search for news across
the globe, search out medicines for sickness that used to wipe out masses of
people at one time. We can see neighborhoods on a map from our phones across
the globe. We can now fly anywhere in the world. We are able to send people
into space.
However, we cannot even
leave our windows open in our cars or unlocked for a moment with us not in it.
We cannot leave our home unlocked if we go on a trip for even a day. We cannot
even leave our bags unattended in certain places like an airport or government
building.
We cannot even trust each
other to do what is right. The Governments of the world have missiles, drones,
satellites, undercover organizations.
We have guns, practice fighting for just
in case.
So what is the Shalom / Peace
that we in essence are always searching for and so eagerly want to attain. It
seems that in todays society we are willing to give up our freedoms to be able
to obtain this shalom / peace that is always revolving. It seems like every
time we seem to have some type of shalom in the world, or at least, a hint of
moving in that direction of it ; effectively some type of new threat, to us as
a society, arises that causes us even greater fears and worries.We are
told, will effect us and our freedoms,and to continue to keep our movement to
that shalom.
Jesus Christ stated in John 14:27
"I am leaving you with a
gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don't be troubled or afraid.”
The Prophet Isaiah 32:17 writes “The
fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and
confidence forever.”
We are starting to see all the
things of this world, that implies any picture or confidence of its peace, has
failed. With all the wonders and ideas of our great leadership, we see a sinking
ship. A course of failure. A path of ever present of distrust, strife , hate,
jealousy perversion, envy , bitterness, lawlessness, immorality , selfishness,
drunkenness , division, dissention, discord, fighting and the likeness of these
things.
This sounds much like Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the
results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish
ambition, dissension, division, envy,
drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as
I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the
Kingdom of God.
We now have the idea and understanding of what Shalom is not, so what is Jesus and Isaiah talking about? How are we able to achieve this
shalom?
If the world cannot give or bring shalom then, the shalom is
not of this world. It cannot be found here. Its not made here, its not achieved
or earned. It is not anywhere written of or known outside of our Master, King
and Creator of the Universe who is ever
present, Eternal , and THE Existing One. He is THE GOD of the Holy Bible, He is THE GOD of Israel , He is THE Father of Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob. He is YHVH, He is
the one who spoke to Moses. He is our Redeemer and our Salvation. He is the one
who sent His only begotten son into the world who died on the cross to bear our
sins of transgressions and inequity to make us whole. He is the Holy Spirit who
lay the truth in us. Yet He is ONE
(ECHAD)!
The Shalom that is not of this world, is truth and of
righteousness that cannot be changed . It is something worth the fight to have.
However, the difference between this fight and of the world’s view, this fight
doesn’t keep you in bondage. Its freedom allows the truth to be in you. It wont
blind you or deceive you when you search for it .It will always be right there
when you need it. The problem is, we get caught up with the cares of this world that allows our-self
to be blinded when we cant see the truth standing right in front of us. We
allow ourselves, by our free will and choice to fall into a pit of selfishness
that blinds us for that moment of time.
Then just after that moment of carelessness of selfish ambitions of hate
and strife we see the destruction of our actions. Then clarity sets forth. When
clarity sets in also comes shame, embarrassment as well as the consequence of
that action.
Shalom is given to us from GOD Himself and cannot be removed
from us in any circumstance. What happens, we give it away. We decide to not
grasp onto what is of GOD Himself. If it is not Shalom, its not of GOD. There
is NO gray area in it. It is either Black or White. It is either Peace of GOD
that HE only gives or it is not of HIM at all. When the tough circumstances (testing) of life take root in
Shalom is the Fruit of The Holy Spirit that only the Holy
Spirit can give and produce.
Galatians 5:22
But
the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these
things!
This scripture sounds very close to Strong’s concordance
definition.
This is why the world cannot produce these things; today people believe in everything but this fruit. There is No other writer,
teacher, leader, spiritual existence and or belief that provides this fruit.
All other belief systems produces some type selfish desire that binds the
chains of bondage or does not translate itself to an eternal existence without
time. That is the difference, that is basic and simple yet complex difference between
Who is the one who Created us, our path back to Him and the worlds view on
peace.
All other belief systems state other wise, they say there are
many paths. The spiritual is all of some kind of Love. If that was true, then we know
eternity does and will always
continue to exist , we then know
eternity is spiritual and is greater then what we know of the flesh. So, if evil
and wickedness exists now in the flesh, then we know that it must of manifested
from the spiritual. If God is not anything wicked or evil, then we also must
know and take into account that there must be something else spiritual other
then GOD himself that also exists.
If there is something in the spiritual realm that exists and
is evil, what does it produce? It produces a path that is not of GOD, it may
have many similarities of GOD but it is not of HIM and it leads to destruction.
How can I state this? Its simple yet complex again, evil and wickedness exists
and the world has not been able to bring us PEACE / SHALOM!
This Shalom is worth fighting for and to hold onto; it is
greater then Gold and silver. It will keep you safe when the tests and the
trials come and they will come. The only way to obtain it is from GOD HIMSELF
with His promises He Gives us.
In closing our search for understanding in life brings us to
know that there is a greater understanding that supersedes our understanding (
Isaiah 55:8-9). If you Trust and rely on the promises of GOD they will always
prove themselves as blessing to us in our lives. That also means that if we
don’t trust and rely on GOD’s word that they will also be proven true but to
our demise and dismay.
I pray that you do know and trust our God and come to the
knowledge of Jesus Christ as our promised and fulfilled savoir while there is
still time. He is calling you in all your circumstances and loves you greater
then you can love yourself. However, through Him shews us HIS paths, promises
and blessings. It will not always be easy but it will always bring us Shalom
that the world cannot understand and or give.
We are called to be watchman on the wall (Ezekial 33:6), to
help and encourage our bretheren and to be the salt and the light of the world
( Mathew 5:13-16). To Sharpen each other as Iron sharpens Iron ( proverbs
27:17). If you don’t know Jesus Christ as the Messiah and want to, please see
the salvation link on the right to pray and invite him into your life. It will
be the greatest gift you will ever know. If you need a bible, please email me
and I will send you one as a gift. I
pray Shar Shalom upon you and all that read this. Please share and comment.
Amen!
In Service To Y’shua Ha-moshiach
Isaac
kakdad1@gmail.com
See the 3 links below for some good reference reading on this
issue.
