THE prophet Isaiah, speaking of the future blessing of Israel, says, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isa. 32:17, 1817And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; (Isaiah 32:17‑18)). The spirit of this beautiful scripture is applicable now to every believing one.
“The work of righteousness shall be peace.” There is not much peace in this world. The lack of it is a constant complaint from many lips. Sin has disturbed everything, and everybody. The peace of nations, the peace of families, and the peace of the individual, is constantly disturbed. When the world might have had peace, in its blind folly it refused it. A Child was born, a Son was given―the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)); but the heart of man warred against Him, and killed Him. There has been no peace for the world since, neither will there be till He returns again.
But man’s work that took peace away, was met by God’s work that brings it back for all who will have it. There are two sides to the cross of Christ. It was God’s work of righteousness, that men might have peace. The precious blood that was shed pleaded, and pleads still, for the guiltiest of the guilty. Man’s boasted righteousness showed out its true character at Calvary. The religious hatred of the human heart could go no further. But when man’s righteousness utterly broke down, God brought out His. On the ground of the atoning work of Christ, God displays His righteousness from that moment to this, in justifying guilty man. Peace is the consequence. “The work of righteousness shall be peace” (vs. 17). God is just, “and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. 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)).
No other work is needed to obtain peace. One work only is sufficient, the work of God. And peace is the portion of all who submit to the righteousness of God. Tens of thousands, ignorant of it, are going about to establish their own. Man is very slow to learn his own utter nothingness, and his work’s utter worthlessness. Self-righteousness is deeply planted in the human heart. The utterance of Job, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go,” forms a great part of the religion of millions.
Peace is worth having. Ask any believer you please what he would exchange it for, and you will get some idea of its worth. Rubies will not buy it. Neither will they exchange for it. But God gives it freely. It was made by the blood of the 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)). It is yours, reader, the moment you receive God’s testimony to Christ’s finished work. Now only is the time to obtain it. If you miss it this side of the grave (and death may summon you at any moment), you will be a stranger to it forever. “Being justified by faith, we have peace,” i.e., now, here in this world.
But this is not all. The prophet adds, “And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” God’s love is the cause, Christ’s finished work the channel, righteousness the result, quietness and assurance forever the effect for every one that believeth. Submit yourself, then, to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:33For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)), and you shall not only have peace with Him, but every doubt and fear shall be banished from your heart, and blessed assurance become your present and everlasting portion.
Not only do thousands of souls lack peace, because they seek it by their own righteousness, but thousands of believers have no quietness, no assurance, through self-occupation. They have never accepted, in simple faith, God’s thoughts about Christ, and His finished work. They are sheltered by His blood, yet after all in measure are clinging to, self, and their own self-righteousness in addition. The result is unrest instead of quietness, uncertainty instead of assurance.
Is the wondrous atoning work of Christ of so little value after all, that although God exalted Him to the highest glory, a doubtful and uncertain salvation is the only result for us? Nay, doubting soul. Look away to you bright glory. Behold the Son of Man at the right band of the Majesty on high. Think of God’s estimate of His finished work. Look no more into your own wretched heart, or at your own legal doings. Let Christ have all the glory of your salvation. Cast yourself unreservedly on Him, and Him alone. He is all, and His blood cleanseth from all sin (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). You believe on Him? Then bow to Him, submit to Him. Let it be Christ henceforth, without that miserable appendage of self, which was judged once and forever in His cross. Quietness and assurance forever will be your blessed portion.
“And,” adds the prophet, “my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” And this too is the portion of the believer. “My people.” All believers now belong to God. We are His forever, bought by the precious blood of Christ. And we are brought to God. In His presence, our hearts in communion with Him, we find a peaceable habitation for our souls, when all is turmoil and disturbance in the world around; a sure dwelling, amidst all the insecurities of life and property to which man is exposed; and a quiet resting place, though still in a scene of sin, unrest, rumor, disease, misery, war, and death. We have not to wait till we enter the glory to enjoy these blessings. Truly we shall enjoy them there forever without let. But it is our blessed privilege by faith, and in the power of the Holy Ghost, who dwells in the believer, to enjoy them now with God. E. H. C.