True Peace Given by the Lord
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October 15, 2017 |
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 Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27).
Today countless people are living in worries and fear since there are wars and disasters in many places. They are afraid that some problems like diseases or death will come to them or their family and friends, and try to prepare themselves for future accidents. In such a time, how can we enjoy true peace? Let's now delve into how.
1. Peace is not what the world gives, but God gives it to you.
A dictionary defines 'peace' as 'not being disturbed and being in calm, quiet surroundings'. Many people want peace but it is not easy to have it. They try to become wealthier, or increase fame and authority as a way to gain peace. But they just end up realizing that it is beyond human capability to become impervious to disasters, trials, or diseases. Though they may now be at peace with no worries regarding clothes, food, and housing, they are fearful about the future not knowing what will happen. They just live with worries and anxiety.
True peace comes from above; you can have it only when God gives it to you. It is not given to anyone just because they want it, and the world cannot give it. Having fame, authority or vast wealth doesn't bring you peace. But believers dwelling in God can stay calm, peaceful, and happy just like a baby in its mother's arms, no matter how hard a life may get.
The God of love sent Jesus our Savior to the earth so as to give peace to all His children. Thus, anyone can have peace given by God when they believe the Lord and depart from sins and lawlessness. The Lord completed the providence of salvation by the love of the cross, and people who are saved by faith can have peace and offer thanks to the extent that they seek eternal things.
2. Seek eternal things, that is, seek the truth, and peace will come upon you from above.
Psalm 119:165 reads, "Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble."
If you love the Lord's law, which is the truth, you will be able to have happiness, joy and peace that nothing in the world can take away. Though you are faced with a problem, you can give thanks, rejoice, and pray, and then the problem will be solved and blessing will come upon you. As God will be your problem solver, you will believe God's protection over you and have no fear of any disaster as Proverbs 1:33 says, "But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil."
However, if you have hatred, arguing, jealousy, arrogance, hot-temper, pride, greed for money and fame, even though you say you believe the Lord and go to church earnestly, you cannot but feel troubled in heart. When someone says slighting words toward you, it may hurt your pride, you may feel angry, or the hatred in you may be agitated. When you see your fellow worker enjoy something you don't have, you may feel uncomfortable due to envy. In other words, to the extent that you have more of untruth in your heart, you cannot have peace. Only when you cast off fleshly elements from the heart and fill your heart with the truth can peace start to come upon you.
When you don't have jealousy and envy, your heart is at peace like quiet water. You won't feel disheartened or troubled. Although you may be poor, you can be joyful and happy with a great blessing your neighbor received. If you have no pride or anger, you won't feel discomfort though someone says something that hurts your feeling or points you out. Although someone criticizes you for no reason, you may just look back upon yourself and can smile at him.
Though you may not become perfectly sanctified, if you cast away untruthful attributes one by one earnestly, then joy will be given by God, hope for heaven will fill your heart, and your countenance will become bright with spiritual light. As much as you remove sins and evil deep in your heart and replace it with the truth, you will be able to enjoy true comfort and peace.
Simply put, when we pursue the eternal truth and seek others' benefits in everything, God will fill our hearts with heavenly joy and peace.
3. Trust God's love and you will never lose peace.
One with true faith does not take pleasure from worldly things. He may not try to satisfy his eyes, ears, and mouth. He may fight earnestly against sins and try hard to cast them away. It is because he wants to please God by becoming His true child since he truly loves God. To the extent that we love God and spiritually adorn ourselves before Him, God definitely gives us more comfort and peace both in spirit and body. God protects us from every kind of disasters in the space of the Lord. He will bless us in a good measure that is 'pressed down, shaken together and running over'.
A Christian life is not always an easy way before you. God sometimes lets trials be given to you so that you can become a more beautiful person. You may feel stuck in a difficulty where there is no way out, or you may be persecuted beyond your endurance, or surrounded by enemies. The situation seems to get worse while you try your best by attending every worship service and praying earnestly. Even in such a situation, if you have faith to rely on God, you will never lose peace.
You won't feel afraid, nor grow weary nor become disheartened. You will overcome the difficult reality with faith and rejoice and give thanks from the heart. Unlike worldly people you believe there will be an end of difficulties and they turn into a blessing. It is because you believe the love of God.
Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Job 23:10 reads, "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
If you have assurance of the love of God who loves you so much up to giving His only begotten Son and who wants to answer every prayer of yours, you will become confident about His presence with you. You may feel weary for a moment during the trial or shed tears of mourning when you see something that breaks your heart, but peace deep in your heart will never leave you. The bigger the trial is, the greater thanks and joy you will feel in faith.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you will feel the love of God who gives you true peace, happiness, and hope for Heaven even in trials. I pray in the name of the Lord that empowered by His love you will become sanctified, receive answers to whatever you pray, and glorify God.
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