We live in a world where there is increasing violence and corruption. Because of this, many people are longing after, and even crying out, for peace in their hearts and souls. In their desperation they wonder if such a peace really does exist, and if it does, how can they obtain it?
Well, thanks be to God such a peace, of heart and soul, does if fact exist, and is available to anyone who will come to God, on His terms, to receive it. We read of this peace with God in Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1) Once we have trusted in the Lord Jesus, and His finished work for us on the cross, we have this wonderful peace with God which can never be taken away from us. This peace never changes because it has been made by God Himself on our behalf as we read further, “Having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col. 1:20) Everlasting peace! What a gift!
So far, we have been looking at the subject of Peace with God which has to do with our eternal salvation and well-being, a position which can never change. Now let’s take a look at the subject of The peace of God, which has to do with the practical state of our hearts and minds as we pass through this sinful world. There are many things which can trouble us as we journey onward to our home in Heaven, but God has made full provision for His beloved people so that we can enjoy His peace, even now, as we pass through troubling circumstances.
In Colossians 3:15 we read, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Here we are told to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts” and to “be thankful”. Let’s take a look now at four portions of the Scriptures that shed light on how we can live these things out in a practical way every day.
#1 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) What a resource we have revealed to us here! Not just peace, but perfect peace! Is promised to each of us if our minds are stayed, or fixed, on Him. The real secret of keeping our minds fixed on Him is “because he trusts in You.” May we experience His wonderful peace in this way every day!
#2 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:28-29) When our minds are troubled and out hearts are not at peace, let us remember the wonderful truths that are brought before us here. God is working all things for our good even when it doesn’t feel like He is. Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of His Son! We can trust Him with that process and be at peace in our souls.
#3 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18) God Himself is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! Let’s look more at the things that are not seen which are eternal and be at peace.
#4 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7) What a promise to each of us if we will only do what He says. To enjoy this peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, we need to surrender our anxieties to Him and spend our energies rather on prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, making our requests known to Him
May each of us who have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, experience more of the peace of God as our minds are steadfastly fixed on Him!
Author ~ David E. Zwicker