(Peace of heart and mind.)
We must not confound the “peace” mentioned in this passage with the “peace” we have already been considering (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). It is a great loss to do so, though often done.
But perhaps the reader may say, Is this not a mere distinction without a difference? Surely “peace” is “peace,” whichever way you look at it.
You are mistaken there. That which disturbs the peace is not always the same, and therefore peace has not always the same character.
When “peace with God” is spoken of, sin is the disturbing thing, and conscience the thing disturbed; but when the “peace of God” is spoken of, earthly care is the disturbing thing, and heart and mind the things disturbed.
Again, “peace with God” is something we have — “we have peace with God”; while the “peace of God” is the peace He has, only, wonderful to say, He gives us to enter into it with Him.
There is therefore a vast difference between the two. Peace with God is the result of a transaction that took place only once, which can never be repeated. The peace of God must be sought as often as I have a disturbing care. By way of illustration let us suppose a case. A certain medical man attends the prisoners in the county gaol. A man in whom he has a special interest is brought there for some offense. There was an alternative penalty of a fine, but the man was too poor to pay it.
The doctor finds, moreover, that there is another matter that is troubling the prisoner. He is suffering from some internal growth.
The doctor, out of his own pocket, pays the demanded penalty, and procures the prisoner’s release. But does this deliverance from the grip of the law release him from his bodily malady, or remove his mental anxiety about it? No. But the kind doctor now says, “If you will come to my surgery I will give you something to relieve your present suffering, and later on, perhaps, I may be able to remove the malignant growth altogether; but, till then, whenever it specially troubles you, come to me, and I will again relieve you.”
Now, this man’s release from a deserved penalty and his relief from a bodily ailment are not more distinct in their character than is our getting “peace with God” distinct from our enjoying the “peace of God.” Yet how many, to their own loss, confound between them!
The blessed God is not unmindful of the fact that sin is not the only thing that disturbs His people. He knows that their path to glory leads through a world of care.
In view of this, there are three things He can do for them.
1. He can remove them beyond the reach of trial; that is, He can take them home.
2. He can remove the trial from them, but still leave them here.
3. He can allow the trial to remain, but calm their hearts in the midst of it.
Peter experienced the third as he lay that night in prison chained between two soldiers (Acts 12). Humanly speaking, a violent death was before him. James had already suffered, and in Herod’s mind Peter was to follow. Yet there he lay in calm repose. His circumstances as dark as they well could be, his heart and mind evidently at perfect rest. Then followed his experience of the second. Chains and keepers are permitted to hold him no longer. An angel sets him free.
One example more. The blessed Lord Himself is storm-tossed on the lake (Mark 4:37-4137And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And 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? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:37‑41)). The cry of His terrified followers arouses Him from sleep, and He rises from the pillow to still the storm. Now, if the Lord is personally no longer with us here to calm our fears by stilling our storms, He sits above the storms to accomplish what is still more wonderful, to calm our disquieted hearts. So we read it is “through Christ Jesus” that the peace of God keeps our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)).
Peter’s case is a lovely example of this. Once, with threatened death outside the boat and discomfort inside, the terrified servant, with the others, had called for help while his Master was in the posture of repose. But now, with threatened death outside and prison discomfort inside, he has found at last his Master’s pillow, and there he soundly sleeps till the deliverer awakes him. What a moral triumph!
Now, if the possession of this peace, “the peace of God,” is fraught with such blessed consequences, nothing could be more important for the comfort of the Christian than to see clearly HOW WE GET IT.
In order to have “peace with God,” as we have seen, I must believe the gospel which tells me that a full settlement has been made in righteousness between God and His Son on my account on the cross, and that a declaration of satisfaction has been issued in the tidings of His resurrection. In this work I had no share whatever, neither in Calvary’s settlement nor in God’s seal of satisfaction in it. But when it is a question of the “peace of God” the matter is altogether on a different footing. I must now go to God on my own account, go to Him in prayer. I must, as it arises, consciously deposit my care in His hand, and confidingly leave it there.
The only child of a godly couple, we will suppose, is seriously ill.
The doctor is fetched, but he holds out only a very slender hope of the boy’s recovery. The parents are in an agony of mind about it. While the father is away fetching the medicine the distressed mother steals quietly to her own room and kneels down. A desperate storm of trouble is raging within her bosom.
As she draws near to God, many a past mercy, even in connection with this very child, comes into her mind, and she feels what poor mean thanks she has given Him for all His goodness in the past. But now in broken sentences she truly thanks Him.
Then the big burden of her heart is laid before Him. She prays with earnest supplication for her boy. The blessed High Priest above is sympathizing with her and graciously supporting her, and at last she is able to surrender her will to God, and put her boy unreservedly in His hands.
Then she hastens back to her boy. Any improvement? Not the slightest that she can discover.
The husband returns, and as soon as he meets his wife he exclaims, “The boy is better, then!”
“Better! Whatever made you think such a thing? I can’t see that he is a bit better!”
“Oh, it was your face I was looking at. I made certain he was better the moment I saw you.”
“Ah,” she replies, “but if the dear boy is no better, I am!-much better! Words could not describe the peace that fills me now. Without a personal experience of it no one could enter into it — it ‘passeth all understanding.’”
Now, it was not the burden of sin that weighed upon her conscience, but one big care that pressed upon her heart; and, taking it to God, He caused the peace in which He Himself dwells to fill her heart and mind.
God’s peace our stronghold. There is another word in the verse calling for special notice—it is the word “keep” — “the peace of God... shall keep your hearts and minds.”
“Keep” is a word used in olden times to describe the strongest part of a castle. The “keep” was usually the most difficult part of a fortress to take, and accordingly was the last to fall. In times of conflict that which, to the owner, was counted most precious was placed there, for before the enemy could disturb those treasures he must break through the walls of the “keep.”
Now, when God promises that His own peace shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus it is as though He had said, “Just bring your burdened heart to Me; leave your disturbing matters entirely in My hand, and the peace in which I Myself dwell, My own peace, shall be like the ‘keep’ of a castle to your heart and mind; so that that which is not able to break through the walls of your ‘keep’ shall not be able to disturb you.”
Well may faith say of such, “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Psa. 31:2020Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:20)).
If you would see an Old Testament illustration of a saint at peace in God’s “keep’ turn to Psalm 3.
Perhaps no trouble touches a man so deeply as family trouble, because it touches him in his tenderest affections. It was so with David in this psalm. His beloved son Absalom, with thousands of the king’s own subjects, had taken sword against the royal parent, and had driven him out of his home in Jerusalem. If anything could make a loving father hang down his head, the conduct of a son like Absalom would do it. But if an ungrateful son made David’s head hang down, a faithful God was able to lift it up. “Thou... art... the lifter up of mine head.” In that hour of heart anguish God was his resource, and prayer the way to reach it. “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.” What was the effect? Peace, calm repose. “I laid me down and slept... for the Lord sustained me” (Psa. 3:55I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5)).
Had the enemies, then, all been driven away? No; but his fears had. “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about” (Psa. 3:66I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. (Psalm 3:6)). “Thou... art a shield for me” (Psa. 3:33But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. (Psalm 3:3)). He was safely garrisoned inwardly, though apparently still exposed outwardly.
There is only one other great disturber of the peace, and he too shall be silenced one day. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom. 16:2020And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20)).
Well may our hearts rejoice in such a God. Well may we ask each other, Are you enjoying this peace of heart and mind? and if not, WHY NOT?
George Cutting
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