An exclusion is basically removing something from being considered. My definition of exclusion of peace is when there’s noise and commotion around you and you can’t think or concentrate because of the distraction. The noise and commotion is keeping you from experiencing peace. If we exclude Christ from our lives, we’re not likely to find much true peace as the verse in the picture above tells us. (It is a color by number picture I did in one of those coloring apps.)
“There is no peace for the wicked,
says my God.”
Isaiah 57:21, NLT
God said there is no peace for the wicked. So it stands to reason that if a person is doing wrong or sinful things, there will not be any peace for that person. If you want peace in your life, you will need to stop participating in certain things, stop going certain places, stop using bad language, and anything else that is not Godly. Peace is present when we are living our lives so that they line up with the Word of God and His character. When we are not, peace is excluded.
“They leave a trail of harmful actions.
They do not know how to live in peace.”
Romans 3:16-17, NiRV
I’m sure at some point in your life you’ve watched gangster type shows. How much peace did you observe in the show? The bad guys are always getting into trouble because of the things they’ve done. They run from the law. They hide and cover up what they’ve done. Is that peace? It’s certainly not the way I’d like to live my life. I much prefer the peace that comes from doing and living right. The above verse is talking about all of us sinners, me included. No one is righteous. Verse 18 of Romans 3 in NLT says, “They have no fear of God at all.” That is why there is no peace for sinners.
No one likes to be excluded from events. I know the heart-wrenching feeling of that first hand, and it takes a long time to get past it, especially when you find yourself spending holidays alone. Being excluded is not the end, though, and sometimes it helps you to find other activities and people to be with that in some ways are better.
Kids can be so cruel to other kids sometimes, and I know that first hand as well. I was never one of the most popular kids and always the last one to be chosen for a team. I often wish I would have just been excluded altogether instead of being the last one with no other choice but to be picked—or assigned.
Have you ever thought of people in the Bible who were excluded or outcast? Here are a few:
- The shepherds in the Christmas story were societal outcasts but were chosen to receive the announcement of our Savior’s birth. (Luke 2)
- Children were considered by some to be unimportant and shooed away as being a pest, but Jesus called them to Himself and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
- Women held a lower place in society than men but Jesus healed them, talked with them, and included them in His circle of friends. (John 4:7-27)
- Tax collectors were called the scum of the earth because of their bad reputation for taking more than necessary when doing their job, but Jesus saw the heart and called one to Himself. (Matthew 9:9-13)
- Demon possessed individuals were not ignored by Jesus, but were set free from the chains that held them captive. (Luke 8:26-56)
Though these and others were excluded by the very people around them, they found peace when Jesus intersected their lives and took away the stigma that held them for so long. Other were excluded permanently:
- Moses was excluded from entering the Promised Land because of his sin in the wilderness (See Deuteronomy 32:51–52).
- Some of the virgins were excluded from the wedding feast because they were not ready when the bridegroom came (See Matthew 25:10).
- Not everyone will enter Heaven—some will be excluded because they didn’t believe and ask Jesus into their lives (See I Corinthians 6:9).
If I was any one of these last mentioned people, I would be devastated—wouldn’t you? No way would I want to miss out on something I worked and waited so long for only to be told it was too late or I wasn’t ready. But we will be excluded from Heaven if we are not prepared.
It’s no different than going on vacation and arriving at our destination only to find out there was no reservation made for us and the rooms are all booked. Disappointment with a capital D! Don’t blame it on someone else for not making the reservations. You must make arrangements with Jesus personally and confirm them. No one else can do it for you…not your parents or grandparents nor your friends or children. It’s like the fine print on coupons—only good for certain items (in this case certain people—you!), not good on any other item (or for any other person).