#wordhip

Peace in the Park- A Buddhist Temple.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Matt 5:9.

On our day walk around the Battersea Park in London earlier this week we came upon this temple honouring the image of Buddha. As we are in the run up to Christmas I decided to look up the history behind it's being there.

The London Peace Pagoda has been a landmark along the Thames for over 30 years - but what is a Buddhist Temple doing in Battersea? Apparently it was built at a time when the cold war was at it's worst and the fear of nuclear attack prompted the offer of this Peace Pagoda to promote world peace and harmony. 

It seems even then we chose to look up to the image of a man long gone. Even for all of Buddha's many inspiring quotes on Peace and Meditation and lessons for living that have great value and are very wise he is unable to help us now. Sadly in death he was and is also unable to help anyone who has passed on. Hence looking up to him then let alone now to his long dead image will be of no help to finding peace for oneself. We however do have One who we can turn to, to find peace in times of need as God's appointed advocate to help guide us through life and beyond the grave in death.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

So why do we look for Peace in the Park when we have the Prince of Peace to call on.

" For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". Isaiah 9:6 (Written about 700 years before the time of Jesus).

As opposed to looking to Christ who was specifically sent into the world to do that. But instead of looking up to Him then and now to reassure us, we choose to look up to an Idol, the image of a mere mortal man long gone. Yet we have the "Son of Man"saying to us all, through all the conflicts, pressures within our lives then and now, including the confusion and dissension amongst it's people we see in our world today, He says; "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27.