Perfect Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3

A former president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and historians from England, Egypt, Germany, and India have come up with some startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace. During this period, there have been 14,351 wars, large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have died.

My heart is breaking for what I see happening in America. We are at war; there is no peace. But for Christians, there is good news. The Bible has promised us  "perfect peace"  if we keep our minds stayed on God and trust in Him.

The words "perfect peace" in the Hebrew language are rendered  shalom shalom  or "peace, peace." God gives us double peace!

According to the Scriptures, we can have peace  with  God and the peace  of  God.

For nearly twelve years, I lived safe and secure under the false assumption that God would not send me to Hell because of my parents' godly lives. But on a Sunday night in August of 1965, I had an encounter with the convicting power of the Holy Ghost, and I realized that God has no grandchildren. I knelt at an altar, repented of my sins, and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I was no longer under the wrath of God. I was born again. I had peace with God.

Do you have peace with God? If not, that peace can be yours today. Peace with God happens instantly to every person that repents and accepts Christ as their Savior.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

Sadly, every Christian does not always possess the peace  of  God. Philippians 4:7 says, "The peace of God passeth understanding." It is hard to comprehend God's peace because it can be had during times of great turmoil, trials, sorrow, persecution, fear, and even death.

In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley's execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he intended to go to bed and sleep like a baby. How was that possible? He had the peace  of  God!

God's perfect peace is promised to those who keep their minds stayed on Him. I find that I can only take the news in small doses. If I continually watched the news media, my mind would be bombarded with fear, discouragement, and possibly even despair. I have to strengthen my mind every day by getting in the Word of God.

The Apostle Paul gave us the prescription for a healthy thought life in Philippians 4:8-9. He said, "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report; think on these things." You will not hear those words on the evening news.

God's perfect peace is promised to those who also trust Him. The word "trusteth" is from the Hebrew word  batach ,  which means "confidence in something."

A few days ago, I was sitting in my backyard, under the trees, praying and reading my Bible. I was deeply troubled over the things going on in our nation. I read Psalm 104, the beautiful hymn that celebrates the Creator and the greatness of His creation. I read verse twelve, which says, "By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation which  sing  among the branches."

I stopped reading and began to listen. The trees were filled with the symphony of birds singing to their Creator. They were "taking no thought for tomorrow." They had full confidence they would be taken care of. That's how our heavenly Father wants us to trust Him.

The Hebrew word for "trusteth" goes a step further. It also means "careless security that comes from confidence. It means to be totally at ease."

Long ago, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and soon paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the audience cheered and clapped. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. It revealed a mirror-smooth lake reflecting green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. The audience thought that surely this was the one. It was a portrait of peace and tranquility.

Then the second painting was uncovered, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. Amid the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she  rested  on her eggs.

I love that story! I wish I could tell it to you in person so I could make it as dramatic as I believe that portrait was. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her young ones, that little bird was the perfect picture of peace that surpasses understanding and transcends all earthly turmoil. Amid danger, she displayed a trust that enabled her to have "careless security" and be totally at ease!

Paul wrote in  II Thessalonians 3:16, "Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means."

This Scripture lets us know that the peace of God is possible for His children in any circumstance.

1. We have the  source  of peace - "The Lord of peace Himself."

2. We have the  channel  of peace - "by all means."

The world may be imploding around you, but God has the means of giving you perfect peace.

3. We have the  duration  of peace - "always."

Despite everything happening in this country, from anarchy, rioting, killing, to the ugly political war, the perfect peace of God is, and always will be available,

It was Jesus Christ who brought the peace of God down to earth. Across the Judean hills, the heavenly host heralded His birth saying, "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Jesus Christ, the Lord of peace Himself, offers His peace as a garrison to stand guard against all attacks upon our hearts and minds.

"I rest beneath the Almighty's shade, my griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on Whom my soul is stayed, wilt keep me still in perfect peace." ~ Charles Wesley