Peace: Is it Yours?

Introduction

Mark 4:34-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

This account from the Gospel reminds me of how our hearts and lives are when we do not know the peace of God. Without the peace of God there is worry, anxiety, endless doubt, striving after the wind, turmoil in relationships, and lack of joy. The peace of God produces great calm within our hearts. Today, we will learn about how we can personally experience the peace of God.

Is there any hope for peace?

The endless wars, conflicts, and injustices, as well as the feelings of hopelessness, anxiety and frustration we see in the world today only prove what the Bible has always declared concerning mankind: "The way of peace they have not known" (Romans 3:17). All efforts to achieve lasting peace fail miserably because the root of the problem is not dealt with. What is the root cause?

James 4:1-3 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

We have an internal, spiritual problem because of our rebellion against God. We do not have internal peace. We are unsettled in our souls. There is a struggle within us.

We are not naturally satisfied with what who we are and what we have, so we fight within ourselves and among ourselves to gain what we think we need. This pursuit does not satisfy because it is rooted in sin or rebellion. It simply does not consider God as the one who can give us peace within. We pursue peace in every place but God.

The Bible teaches that God alone has the solution to the problem of peace-not only for nations, but also for you. He has successfully dealt with the root cause of all turmoil-sin.

Now He offers sure and lasting peace for both the heart and conscience through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to the comforting words of Jesus: “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). How can peace be made?

How can peace be made?

Man can never "make his peace with God." Peace cannot be purchased or earned by us, nor can our tears, prayers, and resolutions ever make peace with Him. However, what we could not do, God has done perfectly and eternally!

Colossians 1:16-23 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

What is it that has made peace? It is the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who bore "the chastisement for our peace" on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

There, the full penalty of God's judgment against sin fell upon our spotless Substitute. Then, as a sign of His acceptance of Christ's perfect work, God raised up Christ Jesus from the dead. Peace has been made! How can you possess peace?

How can you possess peace?

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). It is one thing for peace to have been made, but it is another thing for this peace to be possessed. It is peace for all mankind, but not possessed by all mankind. This peace must be received, and here is where faith comes in.

Faith takes God at His word. First, it acknowledges one's lost and ruined condition: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). You must understand truly that you are the cause from your lack of peace. You have sinned and rebelled against God. You must know that on your own you do not deserve the peace offered by God. Second, faith accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord by trusting in Him who died and rose again to put away sin. All who believe on Him receive this blessed peace. It can be yours to possess-today!

Romans 5:6-11 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

When we rest our faith upon Jesus Christ, we get much more than just a feeling of peace; we begin a real, eternal relationship with God. Instead of being under wrath and subject to judgment, the believer is accepted by God, becomes the object of His delight, and is looked upon as righteous before Him. Can you, dear reader, say, "I have peace with God"? Are you at peace?

Are you at peace?

The reality of peace cannot and will not be known or experienced unless you to respond to the God personally. Are you at peace? Can you say, “He Himself is our peace"? (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Peace does not come from within ourselves. Peace does not come from anything material possession. Peace does not come from any worldly circumstance. Peace comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The believer has peace of conscience as to his sins, and peace of heart as to his circumstances. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace" (John 16:33). Therefore, "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace" (Job 22:21).

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace: Is it yours?