Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.
“Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Psalm 85:10)
This verse speaks of reconciliation which is what Jesus' Gospel accomplishes. This applies between God and man, and between people who are reconciled with God.
Crosses are pictured with two pieces of wood, one vertical and the other horizontal. The vertical speaks of God in Heaven, and of His righteousness. God extends His righteousness to earth just as the vertical beam goes into a hole in the ground from which Adam was made.
The horizontal member speaks of God’s love expressed in peace. In death and his resurrection, Jesus Christ joins heaven and earth, bringing true peace, or shalom. As the Psalm says: “Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
God’s righteous judgement and His love have been satisfied by the work of Christ. The work of Jesus is the basis of peace between God and humanity to those who receive it by faith.
Those who embrace the Faith come to know that peace is won at great cost. As the Apostle Paul testifies: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Romans 6:6)
The day is coming when His glory shall be over all the earth and the lion and the lamb will abide together in peace. Isaiah 11:5-9 describes this expectation.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
This is our Christian hope. Those who are in Christ will enjoy that eternal kingdom of peace. Thanks be to God!
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