PEACE IS IN A PERSON

Saturday 15 February

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)

In the world today there is so much uncertainty in the hearts of many people as to what the future holds. In the midst of all the chaos that we see, people go looking for peace and understandably so. Man was created by God to ‘live a peaceable life not to be under the threat of war and destruction. The Apostle Paul makes God’s thoughts on the matter it clear in 1 Timothy 2:2-4

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and PEACEABLE life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The challenge as always is a person’s understanding of where this peace is found. You could travel the world searching every continent for peace and you will never find it. You could go to every sacred site of every religion in the world including the Christian ones and still come up empty handed. Why? Because peace cannot be acquired by going to any location in this physical and material world. While we can appreciate the beauty of creation it points to the love of the Creator.

So where is peace found? Our two opening verses hold the key. Jesus said in Me you may have peace and Paul said the peace of God is in Christ. The reality is pursuit of peace comes to its final destination in the heart of man when he receives salvation in Christ. Every other attempt to find inner peace is therefore futile. Ephesians 2:14-15 says

‘For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,’

Did you catch that? Jesus is our peace. This confirms to us yet again that peace is brought through salvation alone in one person.

‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12)

Peace therefore is in a person and not a geographical location just as salvation is in the same person.

The reason we see so much turmoil and disaster in the world today is because Satan the ‘god of this world’ is trying to cause as much destruction as he can and to use fear and deception to ‘blind the minds of those who don’t believe’. Truth be told it is only when Jesus sets up His Kingdom on the earth physically that there will ever be true peace.

The reality we have as believers however is that our assurance and security is not based on what happens in this world because our hope and peace doe not reside here but in His kingdom that is in our hearts. No wonder Jesus’ following statement after sharing the challenges they would face was ‘cheer up’ I’ve overcome the world.

If you have received Christ, nobody can take your peace from you because nobody can take His eternal life from you!

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He is in you.

APPLICATION

Walk through life everyday with the confident assurance that if you have Jesus on the inside, you have the very God of peace living in YOU.