A New Chapter (Part 5): Lasting Peace
Photo Courtesy of Kacper Chrzanowski
Peace and chaos
When you think about it, there are a lot of things in life that really go together. Cold drinks on hot days. Popcorn & movies. Peace and quiet. These associations are so naturally ingrained in our minds, we often give them little-to-no thought. As Forrest Gump would say, “they’re like peas & carrots”.
But things in life don’t always fit together as nicely as we’d like them to. Many times, we’re forced to wrestle with certain dynamics that don’t appear to make any sense at all. Just look back at Easter week nearly 2000 years ago. In John 14:27 (NLT), Jesus shared the following statement with His earliest disciples:
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Given Jesus’ character, such an amazing gift makes sense. The timing, however, seems off. That’s because Jesus gave the Gift of Peace during the most chaotic week in all of human history. The week in which the Creator would be crucified by His own creation. In this week, we find—
Peace and chaos.
If you find that paradox difficult to understand, you’re in good company. The Apostle Paul described the Peace of God as something that “transcends all understanding” (Phillipians 4:7). And yet in spite of our lack of understanding, God’s Peace still promises “to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. The good news is—
Just because you can’t explain it, doesn’t mean you can’t experience it.
Amidst all the chaos in your life & the world at large, God’s Gift of Peace remains. As Jesus said, “it’s a gift the world cannot give”. But it’s a gift that everyone wants & needs. It’s a divine inheritance, the payoff for those who put their trust in Christ. And the greatest way to accept this gift is to—
put it to good use.
Permanent help
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…
The Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
John 14:16, 26 (ESV)
The same Spirit that dwells in Christ is the same Spirit Jesus promises to those of us who remain in Him. He is our Helper (as Jesus calls Him), who forever teaches and reminds us of the Truth of God. Peace may surpass our ability to understand, but nothing surpasses God.
That’s why we look to him.
It’s often said that people are “at peace” when they pass away. But it’s Jesus’ passing that has made God’s Peace available today. It’s something God wants you to live with here & now. It’s God’s gift to you, and He wants you to know what you have. Because when you know what you have—
You’ll know what to do.
A New Heart
On this side of heaven, chaos is inevitably going to rear its’ ugly head in life. Meaning, you’re going to experience a noticeable lack of peace in your circumstances. That’s why the Promise of Peace to guard our hearts & minds is indescribably important. We live in a broken world, but—
our hearts don’t have to be.
In Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV), God tells us that He will “give us a new heart & new Spirit…”. We can truly live at peace because we have an inward, eternal assurance of the salvation we’ve been given through Christ.
Your circumstances can rob you of external peace, but they can never touch the peace of God within you. That which is temporary, is up for grabs. That which is eternal, belongs to God.
Peace creates the conditions that are necessary for restoration. Jesus has fulfilled all conditions necessary for restoring your heart. His sacrifice for sins has enabled God to become the protector of your heart & mind. The protector of your thoughts & feelings. God’s protection empowers us to live a purposeful life. Peace gives us a fresh start. Because peace gives us—
a new heart.
A New Calling
New Heart + New Spirit = New Identity.
Peace isn’t just something we possess, it’s something we live by. The way of peace is our way of life—it’s a major part of who we’re called to be. In Matthew 5:9 (NLT), Jesus echoed this truth when He said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Another version says, God blesses those who work for peace. Meaning, we are in the business of peace-making. This doesn’t mean we never speak truth or completely avoid confrontation. It simply means that our underlying foundation is one that’s grounded in establishing peace.
While the world obsesses over giving people “a piece of your mind”, God has ordained you to introduce a different peace. In this sense, peace is literally translated as joining or bringing together as one again. It’s actively working to cultivate environments & relationships that are peace-centered. It’s working towards Oneness.
unity with god & others.
We have been restored by God, therefore, we invite others into this restorative process. Or as Romans 12:18 (NIV) puts it, “…as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. Don’t settle for anything less than living up to your God-given calling. He has called you into a life of peace.
making peace is your mission.
the invitation
For the longest time, the pursuit of happiness has been at the top of the priority list for a lot of people. In recent times, there seems to have been a shift towards the pursuit of peace. Deep down, we’re people that are looking for peace.
While it may be hard to believe, the truth is that peace can be found. Because peace is a person. And His name is Jesus Christ.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
The story of the pursuit of peace is the story of Jesus pursuing us. Jesus, The Prince of Peace, stepped off His throne to come to your doorstep. The doorstep of your heart. His knock is an invitation to let peace in. His knock is an invitation—
To let god in.
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today’s Takeaways
God’s gift is peace of mind & heart.
making peace is your mission.
His knock is an invitation to let Him in.