THE most precious legacy the Lord Jesus could leave His disciples was peace, His own peace (John 14:2727Peace 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)). This is not the peace of a saved sinner (Luke 7:5050And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)), nor of a justified believer (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)), but of one who in such a world as this, where evil is triumphant and Satan rules, has complete confidence in God, that His purposes shall be accomplished. It is the “peace of God which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)).
I may not receive an immediate answer to my prayers, but all anxiety is gone, and my spirit, lifted above the pressure of the difficulty, walks with God in that peace which belongs to Him, and which nothing can break in upon. One cannot understand it, still less explain it to another.
This provision of grace applies in a very special way when the question is not our own temporal need, but difficulties connected with the testimony, which arise from the power of the enemy and our own enfeebled condition, which is caused by want of watchfulness and self-judgment.
The faithful amongst God’s earthly people, after the rapture of the church, will be exposed to terrible tribulation on account of the unrestrained power of the devil; but Isaiah 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3) presents the same blessed truth in principle. An unbroken sense of the peace of God ever determines the faithful character of outward life and testimony.
G.S.B.