In the seventh Beatitude, Jesus says that the ones who try to make or maintain Peace between their fellowmen are Blessed or Happy. Have you ever had to try and make peace with someone who feels they have something against you? Have you ever tried making peace between two friends of yours, between colleagues at work or, even worse, between family members? You know then that it isn't a very comfortable or easy position to be in. It isn't a very "happy" situation is it? However, when that peace is achieved, and your efforts lead to reconciliation, then a quiet happiness descends and you breathe a well earned sigh of relief. Now you begin to know the true meaning of what Jesus was saying.
The message of the Bible is essentially one of Peace and it's author is rightly called "the God of peace". When God created Man and placed him in the Garden, there was Peace between them. God walked and talked with the man and his wife, the relationship between all three was a happy one. But then discord came between them with the disobedience of the man and woman. Now, the peace was broken and sin had entered the world. The disobedient ones tried to avoid the one they had wronged. The easy, peaceful relationship was broken. The Bible is the story of how God, our great Peacemaker, has been working to mend that relationship.
In the Old Testament, God shows that there is nothing man can do on his own to get rid of the sin between them. God is a Righteous God and we as humans have no righteousness within ourselves. We are forever separated unless we can find a way to get rid of our sin and unrighteousness. Animal sacrifices to atone for sin and trying to live within the "Law" in order to approach a righteous God were at best temporary solutions to the broken relationship that started with Adam and Eve. It is, however, in the New Testament that God reveals His great plan of reconciliation to bring about a lasting Peace between Himself and His creation.
As the New Testament opens, a baby is born, God's only begotten Son. This special baby would do what centuries of human striving could not do, bring about a reconciliation between God and Man. "...the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep..." (Hebrews 13:20 NIV) Jesus became the ultimate Sacrifice for sin and His righteousness was given as a cloak for our unrighteous nature. God's great Love for man is seen in His willingness to give even His only begotten Son to heal their relationship. He gave us a wonderful example of what it really takes to be a peacemaker.
Peacemaking takes time and effort and sacrifice on the behalf of the peace maker. It is not an easy thing to do; it will take thought and action on your part to bring about a peaceful solution. The peacemaker needs to get rid of some things in his own life and in turn receive some things from "the God of Peace". The Bible says: "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17). When trying to make peace with someone or trying to make peace between others, you must have nothing in mind that will benefit you personally except the fact of peace itself. True Peacemaking is totally unselfish, submissive, impartial and sincere. None of these things is easy for the human mind to achieve. We need the help of our Creator and example of our meek and humble Savior to be able to be true peacemakers.
But is is worth it? Jesus says it is and He should know! After all, it was Jesus who brought about a lasting peace between man and his Creator! He says that we will be called "the Children of God" just as He Himself was the Son of God. Paul said "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV) For that is the ultimate goal of christian peacemakers: to help others know how to become reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. By doing this and by seeking peace in our own lives and being willing to go the extra mile to make peace between others, we show a "family resemblance" with our Father. How happy and how blessed our lives become when we know we are showing forth the Characteristics of the Son of God and can be recognized as the "Children of God"!