Real Peace

 Then they said among the nations,  "The Lord has done great things for them."

 - From Psalm 126

Imagine a nation that grew to be a world power, through conquest and expansion of its borders. In time its inhabitants enjoyed a lifestyle of luxury, compared to the rest of the world. This began to look like greed to the rest of the world. Their attitude of happiness was interpreted as arrogance, to other nations. 

The people of that nation were pleased that their ancestors had sacrificed to make this standard of living for them. They believed that their system must be superior to others, yielding as it did, such a comfortable existence. But other nations, and foreigners living within their borders, attributed their attitude to racism. 

This nation was generous, providing relief to other parts of the world, to a level unsurpassed by its rivals. But this didn't matter. It was just another example that they were the haves, while other nations were the have-nots. The envy and anger of other nations only intensified. 

But in the harshest charge yet, the people of that nation ultimately gave thanks to God, for their success. In this, of course, they were accurate. But this angered other nations even more. "How dare they claim to be God's chosen!"

The criticisms of other nations became a self-fulfilling prophecy. They went from looking greedy and arrogant, to being greedy and arrogant. This started a process that led to its downfall and conquest by others, whose hunger, to see them pay for their arrogance, expressed itself in violence. 

One day, God tired of seeing the wretched latter state of His people. He restored them to favor. And when He did, the other nations said "The Lord has done great things for them."

....

The above narrative is true, of course. It described Israel, but also, perhaps any other great civilization in history. The part that seems like fiction, is when other nations end up happy their fortunes are restored. 

If the US returns to being the world's foremost, sole world power, will Iran and North Korea praise God for it? Probably not.

But it describes an endpoint in history. You'll know it's real, and that we have reached our pinnacle of human development, when a great, powerful, wealthy, and generous nation can be lauded by others; by all others. 

It's the same thing with friendships. So many broken relationships go back to jealousy. 

There is no peace on earth as long as there is envy and jealousy. And it starts in our own lives. We can't expect nations to be good to each other, or races, when we can't even visit and assist the widows in our own families. 

Our protestations of social justice are vain, if we are not respectful and kind to our elders. All of our elders.

Our observations of privilege are dead, if we act towards anybody, as if we're better than they.

Can you say, of someone else, despite their flaws and humanity: "The Lord has done great things for her (or him)"?

Can you say it, and genuinely be happy for them?

That's peace on earth.