Text: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33).
These words that Jesus spoke seem to be very clear to me. I don’t know how one could misinterpret what He said. Man has been looking for peace since the beginning of time. Why has he not found it? Is it so difficult to find? Is it hidden somewhere beyond man’s reach?
Some people look for peace in a bottle while others seek it in a pill or a tablet. An accumulation of material possessions does not bring peace. A position or job that provides one with an average or higher than average income does not being peace. Godly peace cannot be acquired through injection from a hypodermic syringe.
What is “peace”? Peace is a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. The Psalmist said, “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).
Our God is a Mighty God and a powerful God. He is the ONE who controls everything He created. He controls nature as demonstrated in the Great Flood. He is the One who raised Christ from the dead.
He is the One who can and will take care of every problem we will ever have. The same power He has used in the past He can use today. His power is available to us.
God provides us with peace when He moves us from the life of darkness into the life of light or from death into life. His peace comes to us when we repent of our sins, claim Him as our personal Lord and Savior and accept the gift of salvation. He gives us peace and eternal joy when we are at the lowest point in life and all seems hopeless.
When we are united with Jesus, we are at peace. The Holy Spirit has infiltrated our heart forming a vital contact point with Almighty God.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” (John 14:27) The Holy Spirit living within our heart provides us with a peace that is deeper and more lasting than we can possible imagine.
This peace provides us with positive confidence that will enable us to survive any trial and tribulation that comes our way. This peace will give us the assurance that there is no valley too deep and no river to wide that we cannot cross. The peace of God will take away all fear, worry and stress we may encounter.
This is the peace Paul was talking about when he wrote these words to the people of Philippi: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7).
True peace does not come about by merely thinking positively or being a positive thinker. True peace is not just a good feeling. True peace does not come from believing we are in control, but true peace comes from knowing that God the Father is still on the throne and that He is still in control.
True peace is knowing that this earthly life is merely a journey or a trip. True peace is knowing that we have a destiny or future and that future is a place with God in His mansion of many rooms. True peace is knowing this life is not the end, but just a stepping stone to a greater and higher place in His kingdom.
Billy Graham shares this example of peace: “The sea was beating against the rocks in huge dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep.
This is peace – to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ, we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace – at last!”
If man has found peace, why is there fighting and unrest throughout the world? There is discord and unrest in many families because of broken relationships. There is hostility between family members. There are disagreements with neighbors and friends. There is war in many parts of the world.
The weekend of December 7, 1941, started out to be another routine weekend. The aircraft carriers were at dockside and the crews were enjoying the day with rest and relaxation. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. This was a perfect picture of peace, but something happened that brought disaster into the lives of many people.
Within a couple of hours, 3077 men would be killed or missing in action. The United States would lose 8 huge battle ships. Six major airfields would be destroyed along with most of the aircraft.
At 7:00 a.m. on that December 7 Sunday morning there were 360 Japanese war planes 137 miles or about 50 minutes away from Pearl Harbor. These planes were picked up on radar by two US soldiers at a small radar station in the Pacific Ocean.
At first, the two soldiers noted a few dots on their radar screen and the entire screen was filled with dots. The soldiers notified their young youthful lieutenant supervisor because there were no other officers around.
The young lieutenant responded with these words: “Don’t worry about it” because these are probably planes from a California base. A grave mistake was made and soon peace would be turned into disaster.
If the lieutenant had made the right decision, there would have been time to scramble all the US planes, prepare the huge warships and provide shelter for the men. This did not happen, so 50 minutes later, 7:50 a.m., peace was converted into disaster and the United States entered World War II.
Sixty-eight years have gone by. World War II has ended, the Korean Conflict is history, Viet Nam is past, the Gulf War is over, but there is still unrest in Iraq. There is no peace in the world.
Greed is still prevalent. Revenge is a way to get even with someone or some nation. Reconciliation does not seem to be a word understood and taken to heart by people of this day.
Where is our peace? What is our peace? How do we get peace? Our peace is with Jesus. Our peace is Jesus. Peace comes when we invite the Lord to come into our heart and control our life.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). That peace is with each of us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is not present in an individual’s life, then peace will be absent.
The peace we are talking about is a spiritual peace. One cannot get peace from what the world has to offer, because the world has no peace. When we place our faith and trust in Jesus, He in turn gives us peace within our heart.
If everyone in the world had Godly peace in their heart, then there would be peace in the world. There will never be peace in the world if God’s children will not accept the peace He wants to give them.
Isaiah spoke these words: “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6).
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came to deliver each of us from the slavery of sin. Since mankind has a sinful nature, there is no way we can save ourselves. There is no way we can have peace without Jesus. “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).
Peace is included in the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….” (Galatians 5:22). This is fruit that only the Holy Spirit can produce. Peace comes about when the Holy Spirit is in control of one’s life.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We attain peace through our faith in Jesus. Man is reconciled to God the Father through the shed blood of His Son Jesus. There was no other blood that would make peace with God possible. Peace between God and man is made possible by the shed blood of Jesus. Acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus is our peace.
Story: “His Last Word”
A young man working on the Limehouse Docks once heard a clergyman named Henderson preach from the text: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Being impressed, he had a conversation afterward with the pastor.
Next day he sailed on the steamship London, which became a total wreck. Months passed, and a sailor came to the clergyman and said, “Are you Mr. Henderson?” “Yes, I am.” “Then,” he replied, “I come to you with a message from the dead. I talked and prayed with a young man on board the London who had heard you preach from the text, ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
He was in earnest, but he did not seem to get into the light until a few minutes before the wreck. He and I were told to launch one of the boats and to help man her. While doing so, he said to me, ‘Mate, if you get to shore, be sure to tell Mr. Henderson that it’s all right; being justified by faith, I have peace with God.’
By some accident he failed to reach the boat when the rowers had to pull for their lives from the settling ship. The last thing I saw of that lad he was up in the rigging, waving his hat, and shouting across the waters, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’”
---------The Dawn
Life has its ups and downs. We make mistakes. We make wrong choices. At times, we regret our actions. We think we can restore peace within our own being only to find that we cannot.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…” (John 14:27).
Isaiah said, “Lord, grant us peace; for all we have and are has come from you” (Isaiah 26:12).
I want to close with this poem:
“Peace on Earth”
Peace on earth, with a world at war?
O what were the angels singing for
That far-away night when the Star shown down
With a glorious light on Bethlehem’s town?
Peace on earth! They were singing of Him
Who was born that night to redeem from sin;
Who still has the power to cleanse and to heal
The contrite heart who is willing to kneel.
Peace on earth, amid sorrow and loss?
Yes, peace indeed, at the foot of the cross!
Peace in a world that is troubled and torn,
Peace in each heart where the Savior is born.
Peace on earth, while the nations rage?
And history is making its darkest page?
Yes, peace on earth, for its steadfast light
Is burning in thousands of hearts tonight!
---------A.H.M.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33).
Amen.
