If we love the world we are part of a worldwide problem. If we love the people in the world then we are part of the solution. When the apostle John wrote his letter he didn’t want to encourage its recipients to take an eternal leave of absence and become a recluse. He wanted us to engage in peacemaking.

What are peacemakers?

Let me begin to paint the picture by saying peacemakers are no doormats. Peacemaking has nothing to do with keeping our eyes closed to avoid ruffling feathers. They have a voice and they speak up.

Even though peacemakers love people, since they are controversial they probably won’t win a popularity contest. Power-hungry people feel exposed for what they really are in the presence of peacemakers. People who are devoted to money, success and power will usually lash out and oppose peacemaking efforts every step of the way. It can get ugly sometimes. It requires guts to stand up for what is right.

As peacemakers we invest ourselves. We are passionate about people and this planet; we fight to protect the weak and better the cause of those who cannot fight for themselves. We protect our environment and become advocates; we do the little things that few notice but make a big difference.

It is difficult to swim upstream. That’s exactly what peacemakers do, all the time. Don’t even think for a moment that peacemaking is something you can do on your own. Idealistic humanitarians get stranded and it’s a tragedy when something good goes by the wayside.

Thankfully God’s goodness can’t be destroyed. God is good all the time, and we need His goodness to keep our hearts at peace. Jesus pioneered peacemaking, which is why He is called the Prince of Peace. People were drawn to Him but at the same time people were highly offended by Him. Ironically, our number one peacemaker in the world, Jesus of Nazareth, didn’t go peacefully. He was brutally murdered. A genuine peacemaker as He was, He did not fight back to defend himself and yet He stood up for the truth.

To become a peacemaker we embrace Jesus. That’s how we change the world, one person at a time. Peacemakers write history. They are ahead of their time. Thanks to them humanity is still around. And thanks to peacemakers there still remains a solid hope for a better world to come.