Being at Peace

 

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Webster’s dictionary defines peace as a state of tranquility. However, to be at peace with evil never brings tranquility, only chaos. Peace with Satan means war with God.

Imagine the emotional experience the soldiers had in World War I when peace was declared. They were about to rush out of the trenches to face the machine guns. The battles had taken the lives of many thousands of their fellow soldiers. They were facing imminent destruction and then the message of the Armistice came! Peace, peace, not bullets!

But the peace lasted for a short 2 decades before the greater suffering of World War II. 

A heart doctor wrote about how he was trying to save a man’s life by strongly pumping on his chest. Instead of asking relief from the painful pushing, as many others had, the patient cried out for the doctor to keep it up.

He said: “It's so terrible, over there!” 

After several repetitions, the doctor repeated several Bible verses to him. When the man revived, he related a great peace he felt during his loss of consciousness. He had trusted God’s promises!

I too have experienced that kind of inner peace. Once, it was like sitting in a rowboat in a lake without a ripple or slight movement of air. Another time, after I was immersed in baptismal waters, I experienced pure joy coming down on my head as honey poured from a bucket. My experience of God’s peace was glorious!

This is the peace that passes human understanding. It is more than tranquility. It is a foretaste of life eternal in the peaceable kingdom.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13).

Related reading: How Do You React to Adverse Circumstances?; Our Hope of Perfect Peace

Exchanging the Old for the New

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ changes one's self concept. We no longer belong to ourselves or to the world. We belong to the household of the eternal God through Jesus Christ. This increases the challenges we face in the world. We can expect to encounter aggression, persecution, slander, and abuse.

The Apostle Paul exhorts his readers to think of themselves as being reborn from the dead. Our lives are an expression of being resurrected in Him. We live as servants of the One who gives us eternal life. 

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23, 24).

The old soul or life is exchanged for the new life He came to give (John 1:12). By His grace we exchange the old for the new life in Christ. 

Christ’s soul life exchange sounds unreasonable or improbable to those who are perishing, but the disciple looks forward to fulfillment of the work God has begun in us. The early disciples longed for the Kingdom age because of its blessed nature. In that age we will experience true shalom and perfect communion with the Holy Trinity!

The Lord Jesus wanted his first disciples to recognize Him as the source of their lifes, blessings and hope. He bid them, “Come and see” (John 1:39). Those who came followed Him. Their lives were gradually changed. They exchanged thie old life for the new and entered into His righteousness, being justified by faith. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me...” (John 10:27). He promises that none can snatch us from his fold. We are secure in His care.

Related reading: Confirm His Calling; You Must Be Born Again