A VERY INFORMATIVE verse now comes: “that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace” (Eph. 2:15). This verse arose out of the Scriptures during World War II and became my guiding star during the war and has been since. How do we find peace? Paul lifts up out of reality a universal method of finding peace: get each party to change and come to a third position—a new man out of both parties. There is no other way to peace, from the simplest relationship to the most complex.
For example, take the relationship between a husband and a wife. If the husband conquers the wife and suppresses her, knowing women as I do, I know there will be no peace—she will plan revenge. Or vice versa. Both must change and come to a third position—the union. Neither one conquers the other, but the union conquers them both. That brings peace.
If the white race attempts to conquer the black race, as is being attempted in South Africa and in some parts of the United States, there will be no peace. There will be nothing but planned revenge and insecurity. It is said that every white man in South Africa has to have not one dog, but two—a little dog to wake up the big dog! Why this insecurity and fear? When I was there several years ago, the South African parliament put through thirty-seven restrictive bills taking away the last bit of franchise from the native African. A white legislator said, “Now that we have clipped the native’s wings we must be kind to him and be an example to the rest of the world as to how we treat the native.” Kind to him—while the African is under, be kind to him, but not just. This underlying philosophy is at the basis of conditions in that unhappiest and most insecure land of the world. If the white man would change and be willing to make a new man out of both parties, peace would automatically come. Now there is only hate and insecurity and war.
O Lord Jesus, Thou art creating in Thyself the new man—the new man who will rule in righteousness and justice and hence in peace. Help me to be that new man in every situation this day, laying hands of peace on everything. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Give us the ministry of reconciliation—may I exercise the ministry of reconciliation in every situation today.
