Peace 11
In this series on peace we are
spending the bulk of our time examining different scriptural means of obtaining
this greatly desired commodity. We come today to yet another method, namely
this: the peace of God comes when we are living right.
The prophet Isaiah tells us, The
work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness
and assurance forever (Isaiah 32.17). What is righteousness? Doing right in
the eyes of God. What does righteousness work in us? Peace. What is the effect
of righteousness? Quietness (a sense of peaceful calm) and assurance
(confidence and faith in Him). We see here a clear linkage between doing right
and having or being at peace.
This holy wedlock between the two is
likewise emphasized by the psalmist. Mercy and truth are met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85.10). At the close
of the wedding ceremony I turn to the groom and announce, “You may kiss your
bride.” That kiss is symbolic of their union. It is not wrong to say that peace
and righteousness are married. They are one flesh. Where you find one, you find
the other. You cannot separate the two. No wonder the writer of Hebrews labeled
Melchizedek, who was an Old Testament appearance of Jesus or at least a type of
Christ, King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is,
King of peace (Hebrews 7.2).
Elsewhere in Isaiah the prophet
likens peace to a river, and links it again there with righteousness. O that
thou hadst hearkened unto my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river,
and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48.18). What is he
saying? Very simply, when I obey God the result is the aforementioned presence
of the union of peace and righteousness.
I live a few hundred yards from the
mightiest river on the North American continent. In the two years I have been
in Dubuque I have spent much time along its banks. I have learned a few things.
A river is constant; its flow is ceaseless. A river is refreshing to all the men
and animals and plants along its banks. A river is a smooth path for commerce
and travel. A river is a barrier to keep out the unwanted. A river is a delight
with its song and its scenery. A river is smooth on top but powerful underneath
the surface.
…and that entire paragraph is true of
peace as well, the peace that comes like a river when I keep His commands and
live in righteousness.
The aforementioned psalmist calls our
attention to the righteous man. Mark the perfect man, and behold the
upright: for the end of that man is peace (Psalm 37.37). At the close of
the day, when the toil we have endured through the heat of the day is laid
down, the righteous man is at peace. He has done his duty to the best of his
ability. Now he can rest both body and soul. And just as the end of the day so
the end of a life. I am, just now, working away hammer and tongs at God’s will
for my life. But if He tarry His coming the time will inevitably arrive where I
will put down those tools for the last time. My books will be closed, my fingers
on the keyboard stilled, my voice will no longer ring out from the pulpit. My life’s
work will be done. Will I be at peace then? Will I be content with that life’s
work? Will I rest easy waiting at the last finally to go home? It depends
entirely on whether I live in righteousness between now and then or not. In the
end, we will see. The end always tells.
One of the mightiest Baptist preachers
of the twentieth century was Lee Roberson. Longtime pastor of the Highland Park
Baptist Church, and the founder of Tennessee Temple University, his ministry
was enormous in scope and impact. He has always been special to me for my
father trained under him. Many years ago now, I heard him tell the story of the
night he surrendered to the gospel ministry. He was a singer and a good one,
classically trained, with a bright future ahead of him in radio. When God
called him to preach he struggled to lay that aside. It was not easy for him.
Yet he did.
The night duly came where he walked the
aisle in that Kentucky church, and informed them of his yielding to the call of
God. As the custom of the day was, the church formed a line at the end of his
service as one by one the members came by to congratulate him on God’s call in
his life. An old man lingered long in the auditorium until everyone else had gone.
Finally, alone, he walked up to a teenaged Lee, took him by the hand, bent
down, and whispered eight words in his ear: “I didn’t, and I have had no peace.”
Turning, the old man walked out of that auditorium tormented with the knowledge
he would never know peace this side of eternity.
How about you, my friend? Have you yielded
to Him? There will be no peace until you do. But as you do, no matter what else
there is, there is peace.
You have longed
for sweet peace,
And for faith to
increase,
And have
earnestly, fervently prayed.
But you cannot
have rest,
Or be perfectly
blest,
Until all on the
altar is laid.
Is your all on the
altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does
the Spirit control?
You can only be
blest,
And have peace and
sweet rest,
As you yield Him
your body and soul.
-E. A. Hoffman
That's a good one
ReplyDeleteThat was terrific! I loved the story with Dr. Lee Roberson. I've enjoyed this series on peace. This blog really helped me. Thank you.
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