Peace While War Rages

“Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

Psalm 119:165

“The quest for inner calm and peace has been a universal struggle for mankind throughout the ages. Even for those who profess to be followers of the ‘Prince of Peace’ [Isaiah 9:6], it is difficult to realize with consistency that ‘God’s ways are always higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts’ [Isaiah 55:9]. It becomes normal living much of the time to experience undue anxiety about our plans without ever consulting Him for His perfect will. If only we could learn this simple lesson: ‘Tis far, far better to let Him choose the way that we should take, if only we thus leave our life with Him, He will guide without mistake.’ ” 101 More Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, 261, 2.

Affecting the cross-section of humanity is the tension, unhappiness and storm that is constantly raging within the human soul. Even within the Christian world, the majority of those who profess to be followers of Christ are expressing ongoing unrest in the private recesses of their mind—they have no peace of mind!

It is noted that, “Those in the business world live with tension daily. One businessman was so overwhelmed with the tension, frustration, and turmoil that he sought advice from his pastor. As they talked, the man chain-smoked, fidgeted, and kept rubbing his chin nervously. Even the pastor’s advice to ‘slow-down’ brought the man more tension. ‘I know I need to unwind, but I just can’t right now,’ he said. ‘With all of the economic problems in my line of business, I’m under so much pressure to succeed that I honestly don’t know how to slow down and end this rat race.’ His frustration is typical of that faced by many other professionals in the business community. This man is the norm, not the exception.

“Those who work in the home don’t escape tension and frustration, either. A housewife recently went to her doctor, with complaints of feeling run down. After a thorough examination, the doctor told her, ‘Lady, you’re not run down. You’re too wound up.’

“Even children are affected by tension. A little girl once told her mother that she was nervous. ‘Honey, what do you mean?’ the mother asked. ‘I really don’t know, but I just feel in a hurry all over,’ the little girl replied. It seems that no particular age group or profession is exempt from the high pressures of today’s society.” Conquering the Kill-Joys, by Bill Weber, Word Books, (1986), 57.

Those who allow tension to be an ever-represent emotion in everyday life are inviting a powerful, destructive force to reign within them. Is the stress in your life temporary, or is it slowly destroying your life? Try the following test, answering each question as honestly as you can. Your answer could determine whether or not you are overly tense.

  1. Do minor problems throw you into a dither?
  2. Do you find it difficult to get along with people, develop friendships, or begin conversations with others?
  3. Do the small pleasures of life fail to satisfy you?
  4. Do you find it difficult or impossible to stop thinking about your personal anxieties?
  5. Do you fear new people and situations?
  6. Are you suspicious of other people or mistrust your friends?
  7. Have you picked up any bad, dangerous, or destructive habits that you have been unable to shake?

If you answered yes to most of the questions, you are probably finding it difficult to deal with a tension-ridden society. As stress and tension become a way of life, you will find that other people will not want to be around you because you have become uptight and nervous. You are no longer enjoyable to be around, and you will find that others will quickly cut off conversations with you or try to avoid you.

Tension not only can affect your relationship with others, but it can also affect you personally and physically. Dr. Herbert Vincent of the Harvard Medical School tells what effects stress has on our bodies: “… there is an increase within the body of a hormone called adrenaline. This, in turn, increases the blood pressure—that is, the amount of blood flowing to the muscles—and the rate of the heartbeat, causes excessive sweating, headaches and an upset stomach. This can create a ‘fight or flight’ response with the body. So, if you want to suffer the side results—possibly heart attack, premature death, stomach disorders, high blood pressure, nervous difficulties—you continue down the road of uptightness and tenseness.” Ibid., 58, 59.

I believe that it was in contemplation of such truths that these words were penned by God’s servant: “Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death.” The Ministry of Healing, 241.

In his epistle to the Galatians, the noted apostle to the Gentiles points out that the fruit of the Spirit is love! This is the fruit that grows on the Christian tree or is manifest in the Christian life when the Holy Spirit controls the believer. Joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance are the graces of the Holy Spirit that are products of the fruit of love. I would like to examine the element of the graces of the Holy Spirit, which is peace.

The Greek word eirene (#1515 in Strong’s Concordance) is translated peace in our English language and gives the following descriptions:

  1. Harmonious relationships between man – Matthew 10:34; Romans 14:19
  2. Between nations – Luke 14:32; Acts 12:20; Revelation 6:4
  3. Friendliness – Acts 15:33; I Corinthians 16:11; Hebrews 11:31
  4. Freedom from molestation – Luke 11:21; 19:42; Acts 9:3
  5. Order, in the State – Acts 24:2
  6. Order, in the Church – I Corinthians 14:33
  7. The harmonized relationship between God and man, accomplished through the gospel – Acts 10:36; Ephesians 2:17
  8. The sense of rest and contentment consequent thereon – Matthew 10:13; Mark 5:34; Luke 1:79; 2:29; John 14:27

The Hebrew word salom or shalom (#7965 in Strong’s Concordance) gives us our English word peace. This word shalom primarily signifies “wholeness,” Joshua 8:31 “unhewn”; Ruth 2:12 “full”; Nehemiah 6:15 “finished”; Isaiah 42:19 “made perfect.” In the Septuagint shalom is often rendered by sotcria, meaning salvation, e.g., Genesis 26:31; 41:16, hence the “peace-offering” is called the “salvation offering.”

The words of our Lord and Saviour: “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 14:27. You will notice in this verse that there are two kinds of peace open to our understanding, namely “My peace” and “wordly peace” or peace that the world giveth.

Here Jesus speaks of inward peace such as comes to him who is “justified by faith,” whose sense of guilt has been laid at the foot of the cross, and whose anxieties about the future have been swallowed up in his implicit trust in God. Such a peace Jesus terms “My peace.” Such a peace, with all its boast, science cannot bestow.

So we read the words of the apostle Paul to get a good understanding of what this peace involves. Romans 5:1 states, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God’s will, and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1070.

“The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace.” Ibid., 1071.

Paul speaks further in Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

“The promises are, ‘A new heart will I give you’; ‘I will put my Spirit within you’ [Ezekiel 11:19]. This provision is made for us through the merit of Christ’s righteousness: ‘And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.’ Isaiah 32:17. Those who experience the change spoken of in these words will find that their restlessness and disquietude are all taken away, and they will find rest unto their souls in Christ. His merit, His righteousness, are imputed to the believing soul, and the believer has inward peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The Faith I Live By, 121.

In the book Medical Ministry, 53, the question is asked, “What can make a heart so light, what can spread so much sunshine through the soul, as the sense of sins forgiven? The peace of Christ is life and health.”

Therefore, knowing that you are forgiven of your sins, knowing that you are justified and accepting by faith the pardon and justification—which of course is one and the self same thing—brings peace to the troubled mind. The converse is true; we are not experiencing the peace that passeth understanding because we do not possess the righteousness of Christ.

Some Effects Peace Produces in the Heart

“Nothing is more needed in our work than the practical results of communion with God. We should show by our daily lives that we have peace and rest in the Saviour. His peace in the heart will shine forth in the countenance. It will give to the voice a persuasive power. Communion with God will ennoble the character and the life. Men will take knowledge of us, as of the first disciples, that we have been with Jesus. This will impart to the worker a power that nothing else can give. Of this power he must not allow himself to be deprived.

“We must live a twofold life—a life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work. The strength received through communion with God, united with earnest effort in training the mind to thoughtfulness and caretaking, prepares one for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances, however trying.” The Ministry of Healing, 512.

Now, remember what the apostle Paul wrote: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace … .” We see an association with this in the following statement: “The same divine mind that is working upon the things of nature is speaking to the hearts of men and creating an inexpressible craving for something they have not. The things of the world cannot satisfy their longing. The Spirit of God is pleading with them to seek for those things that alone can give peace and rest—the grace of Christ, the joy of holiness.” Steps to Christ, 28.

Coupled with this statement is the following: “Those who really enjoy the love of God will have joy and peace. Religion was never designed to make one pleasureless. What can be productive of greater happiness than to enjoy the peace of Christ, the bright sunshine of His presence?” The Faith I Live By, 237.

These statements demonstrate that the grace or love of Christ and the joy of holiness are prerequisites to possessing the “My peace.”

Significantly, if a person has not submitted himself/herself to the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit will not be able to do the work of regeneration whereby Christ can dwell in the life of that person, controlling, governing every impulse and motive and planting and causing to grow His love in the life of the believer. Consequently, there can be no joy in the Lord and if there be no joy, then there will certainly be no “My peace.”

Understandingly, therefore, the challenge that faces every professed Christian is to make a full surrender of himself/herself to the Holy Spirit; this is our first work!

“Our first and highest duty is to know that we are abiding in Christ. He must do the work. We are to seek to know ‘What saith the Lord,’ yielding our lives to His guidance. When we have the Spirit of an abiding Christ, everything will take on a changed aspect. The Saviour alone can give us the rest and peace we so much need. And, in every invitation He gives us to seek the Lord that He may be found of us, He is calling us to abide in Him. This is an invitation, not merely to come to Him, but to remain in Him. It is the Spirit of God that moves us to come. When we have this rest and peace, our daily worries will not lead us to be coarse and rough and uncourteous. We shall no longer follow our own way and will. We will want to do the will of God, abiding in Christ as the branches in the vine.” This Day With God, 140.

“When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.” The Desire of Ages, 173. And in the same book is stated, “Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides. And there will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God.” Ibid., 153.

So the Holy Spirit is the agent through whom we may obtain peace. This is made possible when Christ is presented to us as our sin pardoning Saviour and by accepting Christ and His righteousness we give the Holy Spirit permission to do the work of regeneration in us in order that Christ may dwell within, and thereby gives us His love, joy, and peace.

Jesus records the highest work of the Holy Spirit: “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:14.

“Abiding peace, true rest of spirit, has but one Source. It was of this that Christ spoke when He said, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28. ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.’ John 14:27. This peace is not something that He gives apart from Himself. It is in Christ, and we can receive it only by receiving Him.” The Ministry of Healing, 247.

“When we believe in Christ as our personal Saviour, the peace of Christ is ours. The reconciliation provided for us in the atonement of Christ is the foundation of our peace.” Lift Him Up, 332.

What is the nature of the peace that Christ left for His people?

Is it something that is temporary? Is it the same thing that is only given to a select few or class in the church?

“Shortly before His crucifixion Christ had bequeathed to His disciples a legacy of peace. ‘Peace I leave with you,’ He said, ‘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 14:27. This peace is not the peace that comes through conformity to the world. Christ never purchased peace by compromise with evil. The peace that Christ left His disciples is internal rather than external and was ever to remain with His witnesses through strife and contention.” The Acts of the Apostles, 84.

In Mark’s gospel, chapter 4:34–41, is recorded a most beautiful experience that is very beneficial to us Christians living on the brink of eternity. Jesus had a very busy day; things were going well until the multitude did not want to leave, thus the disciples had to send them away and then decided to go on the other side of the lake. Of course, while they were planning, Satan was also planning. The Scripture tells us that Jesus was so tired that He fell asleep while in the ship and then a storm arose that seriously threatened the lives of all on board. “And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Verses 38–40.

“When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the ‘Master of earth and sea and sky’ that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, ‘I can of Mine own self do nothing.’ John 5:30. He trusted in the Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God.

“As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help.

“How often the disciples’ experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on the land or on the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts, there is no need of fear. Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best.

“There is another spiritual lesson in this miracle of the stilling of the tempest. Every man’s experience testifies to the truth of the words of Scripture, ‘The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest. … There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ Isaiah 57:20, 21. Sin has destroyed our peace. While self is unsubdued, we can find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart no human power can control. We are as helpless here as were the disciples to quiet the raging storm. But He who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee has spoken the word of peace for every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus with the cry, ‘Lord, save us,’ will find deliverance. His grace, that reconciles the soul to God, quiets the strife of human passion, and in His love the heart is at rest.” The Desire of Ages, 336.

What are some things that destroy our peace?

  1. Love of self – “It is the love of self that destroys our peace. While self is all alive, we stand ready continually to guard it from mortification and insult; but when we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God, we shall not take neglects or slights to heart. We shall be deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 16.
  2. Sinful unbelief – “Nothing mars the peace of the soul like sinful unbelief.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 213.
  3. Evilspeaking and talebearing – “Many ask the Lord to humble them, but are unwilling to submit to the needful discipline. When the test comes, when trials or even annoyances occur, the heart rebels, and the tongue utters words that are like poisoned arrows or blasting hail.

“Evilspeaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. How miserable is the talebearer, the surmiser of evil! He is a stranger to true happiness.” Ibid., vol. 5, 176.

  1. Discord, strife, censuring – “All is harmony, peace, and love in heaven. No discord, no strife, no censuring, no unloving words, no clouded brows, no jars there; and no one will be introduced there who possesses any of these elements so destructive to peace and happiness.” Ibid., vol. 1, 706.
  2. Criticism – “The peace of Christ cannot dwell in the mind and heart of a workman who criticizes and finds fault with another workman simply because the other does not practice the methods he thinks best, or because he feels that he is not appreciated. The Lord never blesses him who criticizes and accuses his brethren, for this is Satan’s work.” Evangelism, 102.

Finally brethren, “It is the spirit cherished which gives coloring to all our actions. A man at peace with God and his fellow men cannot be made miserable. Envy will not be in his heart; evil surmising will find no room there; hatred cannot exist. The heart in harmony with God is lifted above the annoyances and trials of this life. But a heart where the peace of Christ is not, is unhappy, full of discontent; the person sees defects in everything, and he would bring discord into the most heavenly music. A life of selfishness is a life of evil. Those whose hearts are filled with love of self will store away evil thoughts of their brethren and will talk against God’s instrumentalities. Passions kept warm and fierce by Satan’s promptings are a bitter fountain, ever sending forth bitter streams to poison the life of others. …

“Let each one who claims to follow Christ esteem himself less and others more. Press together, press together! In union there is strength and victory; in discord and division there is weakness and defeat. These words have been spoken to me from heaven. As God’s ambassador I speak them to you.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 488.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1–3. Amen!

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.