Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
09/02/2020
Randall Caselman
God's Peace River
One of God's Old Testament names is Jehovah Shalom, "The God of Peace." Isaiah tells us that Jesus would come as the "Prince of Peace." John has Jesus saying: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14.27). Paul tells us that this Peace is "beyond our understanding" (Philippians 4.7).
Let us see what we can learn about God's Peace...
His Peace is like a River: "If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river" (Isaiah 48.18).
• Like a river, God's Peace keeps flowing. The level may rise and fall, but it is always there. If it stops flowing it is no longer a river.
• A river flows over all kinds of terrain: through mountains, valleys, prairies, and even deserts.
• A river finds its way around obstacles.
• It's interesting to note that a river grows as it flows toward the sea.
Indeed, Gods Peace continues regardless of the situation or circumstance; affording us a tranquil, settled disposition in spite of problems at hand, whatever they may be. The more spiritually mature we become, the wider and deeper God's River. Once trivial things upset us, but the more mature we become the more spiritually stable we are. Things that used to worry us do so no longer: Knowing that God is in control, knowing that He is "working all things out to our benefit, our betterment" (Romans 8.28).
God's Peace is for the those of faith and obedience. Note the first part of Isaiah's promise from God, "If only you had paid attention to My Commands." Isaiah goes on to say in verse twenty-two: "There is no peace for the wicked." God's Peace River flows through faith and obedience: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him"(Hebrews 11.6). Do we believe He exists? Are we seeking Him through obedience to His commands?
God's Peace is out of this world. Jesus said, "The peace I give you is not worldly peace." God's Peace River doesn't promise financial peace, political peace, national peace, domestic peace. Here, Jesus promised: “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to Him and make our home with Him" (John 14.23).
God's Peace is about contentment! Listen to Paul: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4.11-13). Paul is speaking of a Peace that is above this world's situation and circumstance. He's speaking of God's Peace, the Peace Jesus promised; a Peace that flows regardless of what's going on about us. This Peace has to do with relationships, salvation, forgiveness, confidence in our Father's ability to control, and that He is seeing to our today, tomorrow and our eternal destiny: "There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8.1).
All of us would like this to be said of us, right?
• That God's Peace River is flowing to us, in us, through us...
• That we are a person of faith and obedience...
• That our Peace is out of this world, beyond understanding, beyond human comprehension...
• That“there is no condemnation”...
• Peace in our relationship with God...
• Peace knowing that we are forgiven, saved, God protected, heaven bound.
How do we access such a Peace? Paul tells us: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians3.26-27). Paul is saying that God's Peace River flows into our life when we are "clothed with Christ" His Son, our Savior. So the question becomes… Do we have such a Peace?
—Randall Caselman