Peace False and True

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
FACE with God is a priceless boon; peace apart from God a Satanic delusion. That the latter exists is clear from the Lord's own words, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace" (Luke 11:2121When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: (Luke 11:21)).
Satan is the "strong man;" the world is his "palace;" among his "goods" you are numbered, my unconverted reader; and "in peace" describes your state, if you have never yet been awakened by the Spirit of God to see your lost condition as a guilty sinner. Forgetful of the sins of the past, heedless of the calls of the gospel to repent and turn to God in the present, and oblivious to the certainty of eternal judgment in the future, you carelessly pass along. No fear of God is before your eyes by day, as you do your own will, and take your own pleasure; no conscience pangs disturb you at night; unawakened, unblessed, unsaved, unconverted, the slave of sin, you move along "in peace," and Satan will do his best to prevent that peace being disturbed.
But, dear soul, forget not, this peace is false. It is founded in sin, fostered by the devil, finds its sphere in the world, and has no link with God. I would not have your peace for ten thousand worlds!
Peace with God, on the contrary, is true, because divine in its nature and source. It is the blessed portion of every believer in Jesus. The reason is simple. On the cross, Jesus, our blessed substitute, sustained all the judgment of God against our sins. He "who knew no sin" was "made sin for us.” God's claims were all met in righteousness. The result is thus stated:—" Having made peace through the blood of his cross" (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20).), " the God of peace, brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Heb. 13:2020Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20)); the first moment the risen Saviour gets among his own, He says, "Peace unto you" (John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)); ascended now to the right hand of God, it is positively declared "He is our peace" (Eph. 2:1414For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)); the Holy Ghost, sent from heaven, is now " preaching peace by Jesus Christ," and the believing sinner can say in truth, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
Reader, which peace is yours? If yet in uncertainty, and desirous of getting God's peace, your wish, and mine for you, as well as the way these wishes are to be realized, is given in the following sweet words of the apostle Paul, " Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace IN BELIEVING (mark the way), that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 15:1313Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)).
W. T. P. W.