Searching Peace in the Crossroads of Life
Peace and hope are becoming the unfulfilled dream of man due to various reasons. Family problems, Job loss, financial insecurities, failures, relationship management issues etc are few of the many reasons. Every morning we get up expecting something great but at times situations put us into the trap of mistakes. We fail at some or other areas. Not that we want to… but happen… often ends up into peacelessness, Confusion and hopelessness. If anyone is not resilient, slowly s/he will be the prey of anxiety and at last fall into depression. Many who think life is miserable in this way may even go the extend of suicidal attempts.
There is no period in the history where people lived with peace of mind in a regular basis without meeting God’s standard. Each part of history had people came with ideas to help others. Once, history witnessed Intellectual Revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries of West that helped philosophies to be emerged with human reason. Human reason attached with religious ideologies came to offer help in the course of time. But religions left regret in the realm of human mind rather than rectifying the remorse of Sinfulness and bringing rapport in the polluted society.
The intellectual revolution paved way for Industrial revolution which brought a lot of job opportunities and gradually emerged modernism towards 19th and 20th century. British colonialism left bad remarks in various parts of the world but it helped popularising a variety thought of modernism to the uncivilized societies and provided a light of civilization for the future generation. Industrial revolution helped science and technologies to be advanced and later Information Technology has been developed.
20th century witnessed a lots of liberal and liberation feelings that could conquer apartheid and caste system in various part of the world. Even though Liberal, liberation feelings helped to end colonialism and slavery system, they also contributed world views outside of religion. Immorality and sin never found an end. Despair and disappointment continued their anarchy on the human mind.
21st century welcomed the advancement of Science. Modernism is replaced with post modernism. Science and technology has reached its climax and anything is feasible at the capability of man. Man is like the whole world is in his hands in one way or other. Entertainments are making the world of youngsters a paradise and enjoyment unlimited. Post Modernism is identified with a life of innovation and moreover lack of restrictions. Values are becoming the part of history gradually.
Once, tranquilizers were in the forms of drugs and injecting medicines, now it is in the form of internet and gadgets…. But still, even in the midst of aggressive encroachment of technologies and so called success, Failures are not a surprise in the daily lives. Still people live in fear of future and dismay of death.
Science and technology yet again proved its inability to help people to meet their genuine needs. The on-going stress and depression among the youngsters is a sign that Information technology has arrived with some vague purpose. Science and technology in the Post-modern world is helping people to enjoy freedom and acquire livelihood, still there is a vacuum deep inside of man. Still Peace and Hope are laying unfulfilled dream. Both rich and poor, educated and uneducated, big and small are equally wandering for a piece of Peace may be available somewhere… hurry to find hope… As the Technologies are advancing, worries and anxieties are also advancing. People have no idea where to bury the worries…
Suicides are becoming a fashion as though God made a mistake by providing life to man. German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is proven right in the post-modern life style as though God is dead and inactive towards the genuine needs of New Generation. It’s ok to say that religion is out-dated. Orthodox, traditional life style moved to a lifestyle of valueless society. Virtual/ digital world is substituted with society life. Virtual world also had overtaken the lives of post-modern society in such a way that our generation is slaves to the imperialism of digital world. Friendship, society life, finding partner, sex life etc are digitalized. Ultimately, the question deep inside is, is there a peace of mind…? The answer is NO.
The ultimate end of man is not to gain the whole world but to live this short life in peace of mind. If the real meaning of life is not fulfilled, then life lived can be a waste. Peace is available somewhere as God, the source of peace would get you there in the crossroads of life.
History also has a surprise for those who search for peace.
The Message of Peace had been proclaimed already in all corners of the world. Rarely anyone can say, I didn’t know about it. The peace is proclaimed in such a way that people have no excuse to say I am still in dilemma. It is as though no need to search for peace because the Prince of peace is in search of people in trouble.
The writer is not talking about religion but a person, i.e, Jesus Christ. Jesus offers what the world cannot offer. Jesus offers what Science and Technologies are failed to offer. The offers of Jesus Christ are eternal that there can be no substitutes for them in this world. Intellectual revolution, industrial revolution, job opportunities, advancement of science and technologies, possessions and positions etc are helpless in the pursuit of searching of peace and hope. None of those things could provide meaning to life but Jesus Christ.
The cloud of testimonies throughout the history is a demonstration of what Jesus Christ and His massage is capable of. The message of Jesus Christ gave hope to billions of hopeless ones throughout the history. Crores of criminals, immoral people, thieves, sinners could change their lives towards success and meaningfulness in and through Jesus Christ. According to History, Meeting God’s standard by accepting the God’s way of salvation through Jesus Christ is the way to get eternal peace of Mind.
The only Historical figure who promised ‘RSET’ to the burdened souls is Jesus Christ. The only place to go for refuge at the verge of despair and anxiety is the presence of Jesus Christ. The only source of comfort in the time of difficulties for anyone at anytime is Jesus Christ alone. The only way to celebrate recovery from all types of addictions is the Lord Jesus Christ. The only person who can enjoy even in negative circumstances is a believer in Jesus Christ. The only person who can live in this world with the hope of Heaven is a believer in Jesus Christ. The only person who can give meaning to life is the creator of life that is Jesus Christ. The only person who can give peace to the troubled mind is the prince of peace that Is Jesus Christ.
It is a reality that man is running around searching for peace but Jesus Christ gives peace like a river that flows to eternity. This is the peace that can overcome fears and anxieties, the peace that technologies and sciences would never imagine, the peace that cannot be availed by any other means… The philosophy of living a life with eternal perspective makes more sense than living a meaningless life.
One cannot be a believer in Jesus Christ and at despair at the same time!!!!
Author- Joby Thomas- (Bible Teacher and Family Counselor)