“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT, Jesus comforting His disciples as He goes to the cross.
Among the dump truck of Godly topics that perplex my human mind, peace lies very close to the top of the heap. I constantly find that God’s definition of peace does not match the world’s, or even mine many times. You see, when our finite human intellect handles the infinite things of God, we must tend to our faculties carefully to see them stretched beyond their worldly limits. And it only here in this Holy Spirit-inspired stretch that one can be afforded the rare glimpse of God’s loving intention for His creation…His peace.
So what do we know of peace? I think when we hear the word peace most of us quickly jump to the idea of world peace. We hear much of it, about it, wish for it, and even pray for it. But get this, out of the 3,400 years of recorded human history there have only been 268 years of world peace. (New York Times, July 6, 2003) That equivalates to only 8% of human history that has witnessed the world peace we all wish for. And if we claim the definition of world peace as “harmony in the absence of evil,” it is overly apparent the human race has failed miserably at eradicating evil in order to secure harmony. If 92% of the last 3,400 years has produced the opposite of peace which is war, genocide, bloodshed, oppression, and violent conflict, it seems by the year 2023, the pattern is beyond well defined. Mankind cannot on its own produce true lasting world peace. So considering this glaring historical data, can true world peace ever be attained? Well, unless human evil can somehow be conquered, sadly, our answer is a resounding no.
But if we make the grand leap from world peace to personal peace, do the rules change? Well, if world peace is defined as “harmony in the absence of evil” then it would only seem logical to define personal peace as “internal harmony in the absence of evil.” And to make yet another parallel, all we need to do to claim personal peace is eradicate the evil within us. And in my personal historical precedent as well as the historical precedent I have seen in the lives around me, the failure rate is equally as dismal as world peace.
As we seek to better understand peace in general, we must first attempt to better understand peace at a personal level. And to do that we must attempt to understand how we can personally exist without internal evil. Yet how does a human-being live a life completely void of the internal evils of lying, cheating, lusting, coveting, greed, pride, selfishness, adultery, enmity, disobedience, stealing, murder, deceit, arrogance, hate, envy, and idolatry? Well, to put it simply, it’s impossible. I mean, I don’t know about you but I’ve yet to meet a perfect person in my 52 years on this blue and green rock. And as far as our human propensity towards evil goes, it’s clear we’re born with it. And if you doubt the idea that humans are born with a sin-nature, just go hang out with a class of 2 year olds.
So, if we walk this line of logic, we must eradicate our internal evil in order to truly find the harmony of personal peace. So the question becomes not “what” is peace but “where” is peace and “who” can grant it to humans. And herein lies the rub. Folks, sinful humans cannot eradicate evil and their propensity for it from their own lives. We must have an external force intercede on our behalf to see our evil atoned for. And that is just the reason John 3:16 exists. God made a way for humans to be reconciled to Himself in spite of their propensity for evil through sacrificing the only perfect life that has ever lived…the life of Jesus Christ. And a by-product of being reconciled with almighty God through Jesus Christ is the peace of almighty God.
Let’s no longer rest on finite human logic to define peace but let us lean on infinite Godly wisdom to define peace, where it resides, and how one can claim it. Let’s go to the Word of God.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, governing the world will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV, the prophet Isaiah speaking of the coming birth of Jesus Christ that will among many things, usher true peace into the world.
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace. In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering but be courageous; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 AMP, Jesus speaking to His disciples and declaring that perfect peace is available through Him, not through the world.
“Therefore, since we have been acquitted of our sin and declared blameless before God by our faith in Jesus Christ, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God and the joy of reconciliation with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 AMP, Paul speaking to the newly formed Christian church in Rome declaring that peace with God is attained through placing faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and thus being reconciled to God.
“Now the mind of the flesh is death both now and forever—because it pursues sin; but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace—both now and forever.” Romans 8:6 AMP, Paul speaking to the Christian church in Rome declaring human sin-nature leads to current and eternal death but a life redeemed by Jesus and lived in the power of the Holy Spirit finds peace both now and eternally.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NLT, Paul to the newly formed church at Phillipi-Caesaria on the fact that as you live in Jesus Christ as your Savior, God’s indescribable peace will insulate and protect your heart and mind from its sinful intentions.
If today the idea of internal peace eludes you, even feeling unattainable and fleeting as your life tumbles from one conflict to another, it can change. And that’s a promise from God, the author, and the Prince of Peace. You see, our internal evil creates a chasm between us and Holy, perfect God. And there is only way to bridge that chasm…to offer an innocent, spotless, sinless sacrifice to God to atone and cover the penalty for our evil. But praise God, He already did that for you in sending Jesus Christ here to be that perfect sacrifice and die upon a cross. But in the greatest news the world has ever witnessed, Jesus did not remain dead, but was raised to life, forever defeating the eternal death penalty all sin carries. Today you can address the sinful internal conflict within you and claim perfect peace with God through Jesus Christ. Admit that you have sinned, continue to sin, and that on your own you cannot erase or correct that sin. For that you need a Savior to save you from that condemning cycle. And God has provided one. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save you from your sin and it will be done.
Personal spiritual peace is real for those that call upon Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit of God, revealing Jesus to that heart and making that sinful human heart of stone into one of Godly redeemed flesh…a heart now truly capable of processing His peace.
May the true and everlasting peace of God elude you no longer ~ Dan
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