Hello, and welcome to Embolden, living a bold Christian life. I'm Chris Shutter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. I hope you enjoy today's Hold the Line episode hosted by my husband, Pod Shutter. Hello.
Today's message is titled, Peace Through Strength and is based on a verse from Isaiah 35, 4. Say to those with fearful hearts, be strong and do not fear for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you. Peace Through Strength.
A simple, three-word statement can mean so many different things to so many different people. I was in high school and then college when then President Ronald Reagan served his two terms as President of the United States. During the same period of time, my own political ideals began to mature and form. I was squarely aligned with conservative political principles and beliefs.
I was what was known at the time as a Reagan youth. Peace Through Strength was a common plank in the foundation of conservative beliefs. The political and strategic approach in those days was to build up superior defenses, troop numbers and weapons capabilities that created a deterrent for any foreign enemy considering a challenge to the US. This led to the arms race and the escalation of tensions between the two most powerful and wealthy superpowers of the day.
Our strength was determined by holding a tight grip on the sure demise of our enemy. Those were the days of the Cold War. The US, under Reagan's strong conservative stance, was clearly and ideologically opposed to the Red Communist Russia, the evil empire. Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Party and the target of Reagan's famous words while standing there at the Berlin Wall.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall, President Reagan, understanding the opportunity at hand, called into focus his years of theatrical training and vocation, and he captured the world's attention and started what would begin the eventual decline and crumbling of the Russian Empire and its stranglehold on the Eastern Bloc. Let's take a look at this verse from the New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 3. But the Lord is faithful.
He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. While many of my political beliefs, alignments, and passions are similar today as they were 35 years ago, my perspectives have changed a bit. Peace through strength now has a different meaning, for me at least. Peace doesn't hold the same overarching meaning of world peace and lack of foreign wars.
Peace has become more personal and internal. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom and includes the notions of completeness, wholeness, fulfillment, harmony, and well-being. That type of peace is not of my making, but is delivered from the strength of God's powerful promises and proven acts of salvation. My peace through strength today comes from the foundational strength I know from promises that have already been delivered in my life from Jesus.
My peace occurs because I know that regardless of what happened yesterday, what occurred today and what unknowns will occur tomorrow, I am forgiven, protected, and preserved for all time. My grip is not focused on keeping others who oppose me away. My hands are both firmly attached to the vine who guides me, leads me, and sustains me. My strength and peace lie in him and no one else.
Thanks and have a great day.