“Yes, may you see your children’s children.

                        Peace be upon Israel!”

                                                                           Psalm 128:6

Dearly beloved in Christ,

 I greet you in the sweet name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace is something most essential for any human being. Without peace of mind, life becomes unbearable. Peace is important in the personal, family and social life. Jesus Christ came as the Prince of Peace in this world. Besides that, He assured his disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you...” (John 14:27). Without peace, life is filled with struggles, bitterness, and tears. Many question their very existence in the absence of peace. So anyone would seek peace in life.

In my youth, I knew a man. As he had no peace, he became a slave to many evil habits. First, he became a drunkard, thinking that it would relieve him from tensions. But he found no peace there. He got addicted to marijuana. But the end was terrible. His very life came to an end in early youth. He was otherwise strong, bold, and strong-willed. But evil habits resulted in death.

People seek peace through various means. You can easily find people seeking it in distant places. Dear child of God, are you in search of peace? Let us today examine  the way of peace. How can we have real peace and joy in life? Is there a way of peace? Let us meditate on it in the light of the scriptures.

 WHO LACK PEACE?

1. The Wicked People

“”There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22).

Many are given to wicked practices. Through those wicked acts, they lose peace. Their lives are involved in intrigues, and struggles and fear. Psalm 10:2 warns us, “The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.” They get ensnared in their own plots. Our enemy Satan always operates against us. As a result, many suffer and encounter problems in life. Satan is responsible for this state of sufferings in the lives of persons who act in pride. Further, Psalm 10:3 says: “For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.” According to him, it is all his own wisdom, strength, skill and wealth that was responsible for his success in attaining his heart’s desire. He is thus driven by pride. He ignores the Lord.

This is the style of life that many lead today. They rely on themselves and their possessions; they ignore God. Such people would lose their peace.

I share this with you from my experience. I studied in Alagappa College of Physical Education, Karaikudi in the year 1972. In those days, we did exercise and played games every day in the ground. We did what we were instructed to do. One day after the daily routine in the morning we were taking bath in a common place. We were taking bath standing around a water tank. Then one of the students was boasting about his body. He boasted about himself saying that he was handsome and that any girl who sees him would love him. He referred to another boy and said that any girl would run away from him on looking at him. That day it rained heavily. So instead of games, we were made to run along the road. At that time, a few of us were a little lagging behind. A group was running fast before us. We had to run a long distance. We were steadily running. Then at a particular place, a lightning struck and nearly 10 to 12 of us fell down. Then all of us stood up except the boy who was boasting about his body structure. He was instantly killed by the lightning as it heavily affected him. In the morning he was boasting; in the evening he became the dust of the earth.

Beloved in Christ, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). Not knowing this, the wicked boast about their exploits, and ignore and neglect God. He also says that there is no God (Psalm 10:4). There are many persons who deny the existence of God because they have not tasted Him. As the wicked have no peace in them, they cannot taste the love of God.

2. The Crooked

“The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace” (Isaiah 59:8)

The Lord Jesus Christ makes crooked paths straight. So many people not knowing the way of peace take to crooked ways. In Isaiah 45:2 our Lord says, “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.” He also says, “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16). There are people who are worried about the crooked things in their lives. They do not know that the Lord Jesus Christ can set it right. He can give peace to anyone in any situation. Today let us examine our lives and understand the way of the Lord and commit to walk in it.  Then the peace will flow into your life like a river. You should know about it.

3. People in Fear

 “For thus says the LORD: ‘ We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.” (Jeremiah 30:5).

Trembling leads to bitterness in life. This is a life of innumerable sufferings. They undergo untold sufferings and are worried. There is no place for peace in their lives. Job says, “Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up.” (Job 4:14, 15). So evil spirits operate in an atmosphere of fear and trembling. He also confesses: “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25).

We have to be careful in our life. Wickedness and trembling spoils our life. We should not take wrong decisions at those times.

Once I met a young girl. I asked her to pray for one thing. She was afraid of her future. She was trembling about her future. I encouraged her and asked her to seek the Lord as He will do away with all fear. David shares his experience: “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4). We should seek peace. We should not look at the world and fear.

When you are overtaken by fear and trembling, there is no place for peace. Fear is a dangerous thing. When there is fear, there is no place for faith. Jesus was walking on water at night time. The disciples looked at Him and were overtaken by fear. But Jesus spoke to them and encouraged them with His words. Then immediately Peter asked Him a question – whether he could walk on it if only He commanded him. “So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (Matt. 14:29). He walked. But then he looked at the problem, the roaring sea. He lost his faith. He was about to sink. But he made an appeal to Jesus Christ. The Lord extended His hand and took him. Then He enquired him why he doubted. Fear is destructive. It causes intense suffering. It plunders our faith.

4. For People in Sin

“Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22).

People living in the midst of a community of sinners tend to lose peace in their lives. Where there is adultery and sorcery, there is no scope for peace. People freely indulge in witchcraft. This is so rampant in almost all the countries. People intent on achieving what they want take to any means. Witchcraft is one such evil way. As they involve in occult practices, they lose their peace.

Once I met a servant of God. He admitted to have lost his peace because of his sin and wanted to know any way out. He was in tears. I asked him to confess his sins before God. Whatever be the nature of the sin, the Lord God would forgive him. He is faithful to do so. He has assured us that He would not forsake any sinner. He would not forsake him but would accept him. Thus I counselled him. But he had no peace in his heart. It is all because of the sin of harlotry in his life. Sin brought tribulation after tribulation. No peace. People who indulge in sorcery are all over the earth. They are bent on spoiling others and take over their properties. People resort to witchcraft to win over the rights of others.

Once a big businessman decided to increase the quantum of his business by joining another businessman.  But it resulted in disaster. The partner indulged in witchcraft against the man who was to sign the cheques. Not only did he lose his peace but also lost his mental balance. The partner took over the entire business. What cannot be accomplished otherwise is achieved through evil witchcraft. Any truck with such people affects our peace of mind. But Jesus Christ gives us peace by which our life becomes happy and blessed.

BLESSINGS OF PEACE

1. Creates Fear in the Hearts of Onlookers

 “Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.” (Jeremiah 33:9).

There are people who create problems for those who seek the Lord and worship Him. But when the Lord does glorious mighty things they are terrified. The works of the Lord cannot be understood or resisted by anyone. He creates fear and trembling in those who oppose us. We can easily observe such scenes all around us. The Lord works wonders.

Once a man attempted various things against me as I had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Lord protected me as the apple of the eye and made me prosper. Seeing this, he was terrified and stopped those things. As the Lord blesses us and gives us peace, our enemies are put to shame and they tremble.

2. Creates Joy

“But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:11).

 Delight is essential in our life. Lack of happiness leads to sorrows and depression. When there is delight in your heart, it makes your face shine. We not only lead a happy life, but also have a peaceful and sensible mind. God gives us meekness. We possess meekness, one of the fruit of the Spirit. Thus we are blessed and exalted.

3. Sweet Sleep

“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” (Ezekiel 34:25).

Peace thus gives us sleep in all situations in life. This is a privilege of those under the covenant of God. These are the blessings of peace.

THE WAY TO PEACE

1. Trust in the Lord

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3).

In the Bible we read how people are blessed. People who continue to trust in the Lord in all circumstances are filled with peace. The Lord of love thus protects us. For this peace to abound in us, we should trust fully in the goodness of the Lord. In the book of Daniel we read about three youths in the third chapter. They refused to worship the statue put up by the king, and, therefore, were threatened with the punishment of burning in a furnace. The heat was increased seven times. The youth were not afraid of it. They replied: “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17,18). Even in the fire there was no harm to them. The Lord sent His angel. The presence of the Lord made the king accept the Lord.

Dear Brother/ Sister, if you trust the Lord with your whole heart and stay firm in it, the peace of God would abound in you.

2. Love the Word of God

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” (Psalm 119:165).

There are many blessings to those who love the word of God. The Lord delivers and heals with His word. “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20). The words of the Lord were written by the men of God at the bidding of the Holy Spirit. It can cleanse us. The Bible says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:9). When we keep these words in our hearts, they keep us from sin. We have peace, when we love the words of God.

3. Seek the Lord’s Presence

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7).

 We should seek the presence of the Lord and express our concerns to the Lord. Then the peace that passes understanding will descend on you. There are many who lack this peace. Today the Lord wants to make this peace and happiness to abound in you.

4. Do Good

“but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 2:10).

Peace would be there to those who do something good to others. When you help the children of the Lord, you are doing a good thing to them. It is also done through prayer for the diseased and others in trouble. Help the needy. It is said that Jesus Christ went about doing good. “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). He is our model. The Lord gives peace. He does not change. Dear Brother/ Sister, perhaps you have lost peace in your life. Today let us begin to do good things. The Lord will fill you with peace.

May the Lord bless us!

In the service of Christ Jesus,

Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.