Living In Peace
It was misting rain outside, but I did not hear it. My hearing aids were on the end table beside where I was working on my lap top. It was still dark but I could see enough with my good eye from the light outside, that the rain was just sprinkling. Tody, our cat lay close beside me on the couch getting her a nap. She liked to do that. I had a cup of black coffee on the end table too, and it tasted so good this morning. In the oven I had peanuts parching to eat later.
I took my hand off the keyboard and leaned back to relax and collect my thoughts. As I closed my eyes my thoughts turned to God as they usually did. What could I think about him? He is good, he is great, he is so loving? Yes, he is all of these and much more. He is beyond my comprehension. How do you describe someone so awesome? There are not enough adjectives in the human language that adequately give us a true picture of the infinite Creator. As I continued to think about him, my thoughts turned to the peace I was enjoying sitting here at home. It was quiet, my wife was in the bedroom and there was not a sound anywhere. But, I could hear the refrigerator running now and then in the kitchen. How nice to have a home with peace and not a house with fighting and fussing like too many do. Thank you Lord for peace I whispered. What a great blessing peace is.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. Psalms 29:11
What a wonderful gift, the gift of peace. Peace in relationships is important, but it must start first with peace with God.
Have you made your peace with God? Only by repenting of sin and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will you experience this peace. It is true there are some people, as well as some nations, who seem to want to take away peace because they are wickedly aggressive and desire what belongs to someone else. Selfish and greedy are these who do not respect others as they should. These are tools of Satan to carry out his diabolical work in the world. They are envious and restless and they want to take what someone else has without having to work for it themselves.
As I continued thinking about God, I concluded many people do not know who God is or what God is like. Even worse it seems that too many do not want to know either because they would have to change their ways.
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. Isaiah 48:22
The wicked, who are the unsaved, are not even at peace with themselves. Look at the Arab countries. They cannot even get along with each other. They are a very religious people and still they have no peace and do not want anyone else to have it either. All the time they start wars, planing to take someone else's land with false claims that it somehow belongs to them. In our own country we have those on drugs, or alcohol, as well as others who think nothing of breaking into someone's home, business or church to steal valuable items. Often this happens in order for people to pawn these items to support their godless habits. Troubled souls all these be.
In the Bible it tells of God giving Israel their land, but do you think the Arabs believe it? No! They still make their claim and there is no peace for Israel or the Arab countries. The Bible also speaks of the judgment and punishment for thieves and robbers, but do the thieves think about it? They don't seem to. No, if they can get something valuable and not get caught then they think they are smart or clever.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Isaiah 59:8
So as I sat thinking about God and the peace he gives, I sipped my coffee and noticed it began to get cold. Tody, just got up and went to get her a bite to eat, but she'll be back in a little bit and stretch out beside me again. Day has come, the rain has stopped and it looks like it's going to be a fair, beautiful day after all. A day in which we are greatly blessed if we can enjoy it in peace.
But peace can escape so quickly. Just a phone call, or a knock on the door and suddenly life changes to one of frustration or fear. Like a bird released from a cage, peace flees leaving worry or anxieties and trouble.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 13:27
How wonderful heaven will be when this cycle of sin and evil will be broken forever. Peace will be an everlasting possession for all of God's children. We will never have to even think about losing the blessing of peace in our lives because nothing will come along to remove it. We will never hear news from a far away place, or from some person telling us of something that will cause our hearts to be gripped with fear or threaten us. Jesus tells of the day when the weapons of war will be beat into plough shares, once he sets up his kingdom for the one thousand year mellenial reign. This will take place after the rapture of the church and the tribulation period of seven years, at his second coming.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4
In chapter thirty five of Isaiah, the prophet goes on to tell of more of the change of peace, that this old sin cursed world will experience when the curse is somewhat lifted in that day.
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there. Isaiah 35:1-9
Is not God good, great and loving, to finally bring to an end the wickedness that Satan introduced into the world through Adam. I don't know if we can have a black cup of coffee and a cat curled up beside us as we do now when we get to heaven or not, but I do know there will be peace without the fear of it ever ending. Love will dominate the environment there. Such love that we have never even dreamed of will envelope us and such will we forever experience. Love and peace, what a combination, and all the gift of God to those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Do you understand, sin has robbed the world of peace? Here's a strange verse below of what Jesus said,
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. Luke 12:51
Jesus is making you, me and everyone else make a decision. That decision involves whether or not we are willing, and choose to repent of sin, or choose to live without God and salvation. If the latter is your choice, then one day you will depart into a place called Hell; FOREVER! Folks, living with the peace of Jesus Christ is the best choice for our lives.
As I contiuned to enjoy my morning, Tody yawned and curled up in a ball beside me. She actually seemed to have a smile on her little face. She also seemed to be saying, "I don't have to worry about hell." She's so cute, and definitely in peace.
Three Different Kinds of Peace
1. Peace relationships with people.
God wants people to get along together. He knows there are some you cannot get along with. But he will hold all of us accountable for how we treat people.
2. Peace with God; No longer condemned.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
Until we are saved we are at enmity with God. It is not until we trust Jesus as our savior that God accepts us.
3. The Peace of God; Possessed by spiritually minded believers.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
There are many believers, but far too few are living in his will. Too many are carnal or worldly minded. Selfish, greedy, lusting and filled with pride is the way some live. Yes, God's people often live that way. They do not enjoy the peace of God. People just don't know what they are missing because they have not learned this principle. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Well my coffee has gotten cold, so I think I'll go heat it up with another hot cup from the pot, and those parched peanuts smell good and are now ready. I think I'll go eat some in peace as I think of what the prophet said!
But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
Thank you Lord for this peaceful morning and for being such a great God. What a blessed time when peace will be established forever in your vast creation. Amen. Preacher