As one can observe from the theme text above that there are two
types of peace in view in the world:
God's true peace and the world's false peace. Though the world's peace may
appear to give a measure of lasting peace. For there is a certain
"peace" in having a measure of prosperity that ensures some security
for one's family. There is a certain amount of "peace" associated with
having good family and friends. There is also a "peace" that goes
with living in a country that has known peace, and is not ravaged by war like
many other nations. Nevertheless, such seeming circumstances that bring us this
measure of "peace" from the world is fleeting. For such peace is
dependent on circumstances, which of course can change in a moment. However,
God's "peace" is quite different. This "peace" is not
contingent on present circumstances, neither does this "peace"
originate in any way from this world.
This "peace"
originates from God. It is a gift
that God gives to each person that comes to saving faith in His Son the Lord
Jesus Christ. So what is this abiding "peace" that helps the believer
stand in times of trouble and turmoil? What is this "peace" that
resides in the believer's heart?
When it comes to relying on peace. It is far better to trust
in the "peace" that Christ gives rather than the "peace"
that comes from the world. It's not that the peace from the world is all that
bad or evil, but it certainly can distract one from the everlasting
"peace" that only God can impart to you. This contrast between God's
peace and the world's view of peace can be illustrated as follows: Let's say a gentleman
was at an art gallery observing two paintings that represent peace. The first
one, the artist depicts a beautiful sun set overlooking a calm ocean scene with
golden sparkles covering a trail that leads up to the sun set. Now in the next
painting we observe a raging storm, and in the midst of the storm a little bird
nestled peacefully in her nest under the protecting cover of the leafy branches
of the tree. As the man looked at the painting with the stormy scene, he was
puzzled to notice the paper next to the painting was entitled, "Peace in
the midst of the Storm." Then underneath the caption was the artist's
name. Perplexed, the man looked at the host of the Gallery and asked, "How
in the world can you interpret peace from this stormy scene in this
painting?" The Gallery host smiled as he walked over to the gentleman. He
looked at him and said, "How do you get peace from such a scene of
turmoil?" The host pointed his finger at the little bird and responded,
"You see that little bird nestled comfortably in its nest underneath the
shade of the leafy branches. Notice how peaceful that little bird looks despite
the raging storm around it. Still, it is perched there on one of the sturdy
branches deep in the heart of the tree unaffected by the present storm that
blasts around it. You see my friend, this little animal's peace is not
contingent on its present circumstance around it. It's as though its peace is
fueled from its trust in the Creator God who is much bigger than the stormy
circumstances around it. Sir, I'm sure there is a lesson that both of us can
learn from this painting before us." With a thoughtful expression, the man
said to the Gallery host, "Hmm, thank you, I haven't considered drawing
such an insightful conclusion like that from this painting." You see, the first painting is a picture of
how the world views peace. It is more concerned with outward peace than it is
about inward peace. Now the second painting was the complete opposite to the
first one. Its message is more about inward peace than the outward
circumstances around it that worldly peace depends on. It is this inward God
given "peace" that will always outlast the world's "peace"
that is drawn from the shifting circumstances of this life.
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