Peace has been the subject of many discussions these days. The daily newspapers are full of such talk, professors talk fervently about it, and nations seek it. Statesmen claim that they have set the different ministries to work in this direction. Yet we live in a world of wars and such enormous preparations for war in the air and on land that the world has never seen before.
When Jesus was on this earth, before he had those sad experiences that marked His way from Gethsemane to Calvary, he had a quiet talk with His disciples. Judas had departed, to betray His Master. Only those who had faithful and pure hearts were now with Jesus. Among the many precious words that he uttered at this most solemn time, were these words:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
What Christ gave these faithful disciples, he left as a heritage to all His followers until the end of the world. How the hearts of his disciples must have been overfilled with joy at this most precious promise! But do our hearts also have a reason to be joyful? How often we do not accept the peace that is offered to us – that perfect peace that was given to all those who believe! “Peace I leave with you,” said the Savior, “my peace I give unto you.”
The peace that Christ promised was an experience that was wrought out in the character of the Son of God Himself and left as a heritage to the children of God. Those who want to receive the peace of God, do not need to buy it, nor to search for it in some distant place – it has been promised to them and it is given freely, as a gift.
Jesus gives us His peace: “My peace I give unto you.” The Son of God has given many things to His followers – His blood, His righteousness, and His glory. And what a precious gift peace is, in this restless world! This gift is not promised to us apart from Christ. When a person accepts Christ as his personal Savior, he tastes this promised peace and the fullness of joy that Christ wants to give His disciples.
Christ wants us to understand that the world cannot give us that peace that the Savior desires to give us. The world gives only temporary peace, some quietude that passes shortly after. Many suppose that having the riches of the world would bring them peace. The husband comes home and talks of some great business transaction he has made. For one hour his family and friends are joyful and glad, deceiving themselves that this is peace.
Some relative or dear friend receives some great honor that is quickly reported to everyone in his sphere of influence – for a moment he has secular peace, from thankfulness to what has happened. But all these things are temporary. They soon give place to fear, worries, sorrow, and complaints. Many fears and concerns are brought by wealth – fear of loss, fear of what will happen with one’s assets, concern about how much to sell, what to give, and what will happen if death causes you to lose everything.
Fame is short-lived and can never give true, lasting content. Good news is always followed by misfortunes. The purest joy and the greatest content that the world can give, go away and leave us. Even after the brightest present, stands the unpredictable future with no ray of hope for those who are servants of this world. The world rarely gives peace that promises something lasting. And even that peace lasts only for a moment and ends in discouragement, tears, and despair. It is not so with the peace that Christ gives. “Not as the world giveth,” explains the Savior, “give I unto you.”
It surpasses all understanding
The peace that Christ gives us as a gift differs from the peace of the world because the Spirit of Christ differs from the spirit of this world. The Apostle Paul talks of the peace that comes from above as the gift of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). The meaning of this expression is that no man, no matter how great he may be, cannot understand this peace. It is above man’s mind. We cannot understand its source, nor define its bounds, for it is boundless. We cannot measure it. As the Giver of this peace is infinite, so the peace itself is infinite.
The peace of Christ heals the broken heart. It does not consist in giving mastery to our wishes but in mastering them, in giving our whole heart under the discipline of the cross and of the teaching of Christ.
In the peace which Christ gives there is no fear, nor end. It will dwell with us for as long as we are able to keep it. Chris said: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. The peace that the Lord gives is life-long. He will never leave us if we do not leave Him. This peace is the gift of God in His Son Jesus Christ and as long as we have Christ, we will possess His boundless peace
The peace of Christ satisfies the heart. The Christian who possesses it cannot exchange it for anything that the world may give. The dancing hall, fashion, and questionable places for entertainment do not appeal to the heart that is filled with Christ’s peace. We want the things of this world only when we hope that in them we will find what our hearts desire – content. But the heart in which Christ’s peace dwells, is overfilled with content, and its only desire is that it will not lose this peace.
Christ’s peace brings gladness and uplifts the heart above the weight of earthly cares and sorrows. It makes burdensome work a joy. It gives beauty to our humble life and uplifts family life. The house that gives roof to hearts in which the peace of Christ dwells, becomes a door to heaven. Nothing can grieve the heart that is filled with Christ’s peace. Sickness is born a lighter, sweetened by thoughts of heavenly things, death loses its terror because the One who is holding the keys of death and the grave is also the One who gives us peace. Beyond the grave is the resurrection – the glorious land, our everlasting home.
In the fullness of this peace, we forget the cares and concerns about the earthly things. We have the peace of heaven. Where the secular man gets angry and complains, the Christian goes through the same experience and says: “God is love. His hand has acted mercifully to me.”
In all that is about to come, whether joyful or sorrowful, in loss or gain, the Christian can see that same merciful, loving hand that aims only that which is good for us. Just as Paul and Silas who we lying in prison, fastened in stocks, and yet were singing and glorifying God, so the Christian in a night of grief and distress can sing praises to the Lord. Who would not join the noble army of those who through all ages have sung songs at night?
Do you have this peace? It is yours, according to the promise of Christ, if you want to have it. It is given to you freely, as a gift, to support you when you are sorrowful, to encourage you in an hour of deadly terror, and to strengthen you to stand to the end, as a brave soldier of Christ. If you do not possess this peace, won’t you search for it, so that it would fill your heart?