Perfect Peace

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

Once a preacher went to see a seamstress who was dying with tuberculosis.  She had poured out her life for her brothers and sisters who were left in her hands.  The pastor was trying to show sympathy and comfort.  She said to him, “Oh, I have rest and peace, peace and rest.”

The pastor then called on a successful actress.  He congratulated her on her achievements, but she replied, “Oh, I am sick of it all!  What I want is rest and peace, peace and rest.”

These two women represent the mindsets present in the world today.   One group, by far the minority, have found the perfect peace that only Christ can give through trust in Him.  That Old Testament word trust is the same word translated faith in the New Testament.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . (Eph. 2:8).”

Christians have a blessed peace that faith in a loving Saviour affords – a peace that makes the soul rest in perfect harmony – a oneness with God – a divine fellowship.  We find that this perfect peace floods our heart and soul when we put our complete trust in Him.  We can sing along with the hymn writer, “Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, Finding as He promised perfect peace and rest.”

This is a peace that the world cannot know.  The world, that second group, who seek peace at every turn, yet never find it.  They gain great wealth, but no peace comes with it.  They gain great fame, yet still no peace.  They gain great power, yet live a miserable existence with no peace.  They fashion for themselves religions and gods, giving to charity, attempting to buy peace with worldly goods.  Yet alas, there is no peace.  There’s a popular church sign phrase – No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace – which speaks volumes of truth.           

They take great pains to shun and even mock the very one through which peace comes.  They desire peace but have no desire to take the steps necessary to gain peace.  “Great peace have they which love thy law . . . (Psalm 119:165).”  Yet the world despises the law of God.  The world despises the Word of God – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many Christians get caught up in this worldly quest.  They have the peace of God dwelling within them, but because of carnality, do not avail themselves of that peace.  Carnal Christians do not know the perfect peace of God, for they choose to allow the flesh to rule them.

Be strong.  Put off the things of the flesh.  Put your complete trust in God, and you will know His Perfect Peace.

A wise man once said, Peace is that state of contentment that comes to a heart surrendered to God.