Jesus: Our Perfect Peace
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Jesus: Our Perfect Peace
Jesus: Our Perfect Peace
If you could wish for anything in the world, what would it be?
Sometimes we dream like this— it’s not really practical, but it is somewhat amusing to hear what people might ask for.
There are studies out there that ask certain types of people—
Medical Students in New Zealand in 2015:
“Three wishes survey:”
40% of students wished for something that would benefit someone else
36% wished for something achievement related
34% wished for something wealth related.
We know what we want?
Do we know what we need?
If you could wish for one thing? Your answer might tell us something about how you are doing in life— what’s most important to you— What it is that you could be trying to use to fill that God-shaped hole inside your soul.
Wealth, Married, to be happy, to be beautiful, I would wish for more wishes! Popularity, fame, comfort. All these things and many other things could come up on your list.
In our culture today— we are seeing a significant increase in how much time we spend alone. Among youth and young adults, there is a vast increase in mental health issues, depression, and anxiety. That generation is what would be termed “technology native” meaning that they have not experienced a life without smartphones, social media, streaming television.
What do we need? What do we get a person for Christmas— who has everything?
I think God knows exactly what we need— and his arrival brings us something we may not even know that we need: PEACE— and it’s not just a worldly, temporary peace—
It’s an everlasting— eternal, perfect peace.
The angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherd— we’ll talk about that in a couple weeks, but what do they say?
Glory to God in the Highest,
Luke 2:14 (NIV)
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The Apostle Paul also almost always begins his letter to various churches with the words:
Ephesians 1:2 (NIV)
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus himself will use this term quite frequently also— He greets people, “Peace be with you”— or he sends them on their way “Go in Peace”.
Think about all the other terms or things that Paul, or Jesus, could have used—
Grace and wealth— Popularity and fame, a wife and children, love and happiness to you. Grace and Power— Grace and TikTok fame! That’s what we all want, right?
All great things— but he said Grace and Peace. The angels say Peace on Earth--
I want to suggest today that the reason Jesus, and Paul, and the angels all use this term— Peace— is because that is what man really needs, and he doesn’t even know he needs it.
Real peace— a peace that the world doesn’t even understand. A peace from Heaven. A divine peace that only God can give.
You can have money in the bank- and not have peace in your heart.
You can be successful on the outside, and be empty on the inside.
You can be married, and have children, and have a home— but not even have peace in that home together. (Don’t say Amen—) just nod.
I’m going to argue today that what people really want— what they really need, and they don’t even know it— is a peace that only comes from God.
Alot of us have just the opposite of that today. We live in a world filled with the opposite of peace:
Tension, Fear, Anxiety.
In our relationships, in our families, in our friendships we want harmony and peace— but we often have misunderstandings— hurts, and bitterness— the opposite of peace.
3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah gives the people a promise from God.
He will give perfect peace.
I don’t even know what God might be talking about — perfect peace. Or sometimes at this time of year we hear it as “heavenly peace”.
All we seem to have is “imperfect peace”.
We’ve studied this before— but remember the Hebrew word used here in scripture is
Shalom: Wholeness, complete, reconciled. (Jewish greeting)
It’s peace with God— we aren’t worrying about where we stand with God
It’s peace with others— no rivalry, no bitterness, no unforgiveness
It’s peace with our circumstances— even when they aren’t what we would want.
It’s Shalom. Whole, perfect peace.
Actually translated it reads there in Isaiah, you will be kept in “shalom shalom”.
It appears twice. It’s like a double portion. It’s the peace of peace.
‘whose minds are steadfast, and trust in you.’
Let’s be clear— This kind of peace doesn’t mean that you won’t have trouble or pain in this life. Jesus was really clear about that later in his life— He said things like: ‘In this world you will have trouble, but take heart— I have overcome the world.’
This kind of perfect peace doesn’t mean you’re never going to deal with stuff. Like things are going to break— the kids are going to make messes. Life is going to happen.
Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, but rather in the presence of God himself.
Peace is God’s presence.
God’s perspective, God’s assurance, even when life is not going anything like you thought it would.
Some of you might be silently pushing back on this a little— and that’s ok.
Like — ok Pastor Charlie, you’ve got your job, and your wife, and kids— and a new grandson— and your great little life. But my job sucks— and my marriage is really tough, and my kids are crazy, and even my dog hates me. My life is a wreck. I’m tryin to hold it together. It’s Christmas, and I can’t pay my bills— or my family member has cancer or— like HOW? Not just what is peace— but HOW do I even begin to have that kind of peace?
How can I experience the Shalom Shalom of God?
I want to show you from scripture some of what you’re looking for:
The battle for peace always begins in your mind.
Isn’t there a battle in our minds— like all the time? I can know and believe the truth of God— but somehow my mind always will wander to these untrue places...
Or like I can believe and know God’s truth for you— but when it comes to me— I’m doubting. Oh yeah, God loves you— he forgives you, he wants to be with you and partner with you— but me? Oh— I don’t know about that...
There is a war.
Let’s look at a couple versions of that key verse from Isaiah:
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Not when you’re mind is fixed on Fox news— or CNN— (gotta keep it equal here)
Not on social media, or the sports team that you’re cheering for (SORRY BUCKEYE fans. I’m with you— I’m not a fan of that team up north either.)
Doesn’t say that you’ll have perfect peace when you’re mind is fixed on the stock market— or your financial statements— or your political party, or even the bad news coming from your doctor...
You have perfect peace when your mind is focused on God.
Fixed: “Samak” - To lean on completely, to fully rest yourself.
So the translation of this verse could go like this:
You will keep in shalom shalom when all your mind is leaning on God alone.
It’s when your mind is resting in God’s unfailing and unwavering promises to you.
You want to really test yourself— When you get to a point where you’re really about to lose it— take a deep breath and ask yourself:
What is my mind fixed on?
really fixed on?
You ready for the example of examples here? This is what we’ve been building toward---
Take a look here at a young Jewish woman named Mary:
Mary is visited by Gabriel the angel.
Matthew doesn’t spend a lot of time to explain this part of the story— but Luke does a little more research and finds that Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel. At a time where we would assume Mary would lose all sense of Peace about her life--- She actually displays the kind of Shalom Shalom that we’ve been talking about. Here are the highlights:
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Perfect peace?
She then travels to interact with her cousin Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist, they conclude:
45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
She then proceeds to pray and sing a wonderful song of praise:
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary puts the puzzle pieces together---
In this moment for Mary, the promised peace becomes perfect peace.
God doesn’t provide us what we think we want— he provides us exactly what is right— it’s what we need.
A young, unmarried, Jewish woman is visited by an angel who explains that even though she has never been intimate with a man— although she is engaged to one, that she is going to conceive a baby — a son in her womb— and he will be named Immanuel— Jesus, the savior.
And she has the maturity, the self-control, the dignity, the where-withall— to not freak out— not blow a gasket, and refuse this unbelievable call---
No- she just says “ok- may it be so”. Do you think she trust God? Do you think she knew something about Perfect Peace?
Think about the mindset that she has to have practiced to be ready to handle such news. I don’t know how I would react? What about you?
Because you are not just born with that kind of trust— right? You are not just given that kind of faith— that kind of faith is practiced.
Remember our thoughts from the spiritual disciplines:
Remember: “A goal is nothing without the supporting habits to attain it.”
We can set a goal— but we need to be willing to live the life that will support the attainment of the goal! A goal is nothing without habit!
Are we focused on God and his truth in our life, so regularly, that we are developing the habit of living in this perfect peace?
Well here’s the challenge— The apostle Paul lays out a great encouragement in his letter to the Philippians:
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Will we choose to live this each day?
My God is good- He is able His word never fails me.
God will never leave me— God will never forget me.
When I’m lost— he is my guide.
When I’m weak— He is my strength.
When I’m hurting— He is my comforter.
Nothing can separate me from the love of God.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the mindset of Mary. This is the habit of focusing my mind on God and his goodness, his promises— his truth, and his character.
Jesus said it himself:
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
he doesn’t give us “A” peace— he gives us “his” peace. That’s himself. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the perfect peace that we are seeking.
Jesus is the perfect peace that has come.
Let’s encourage each other with this everyday.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
