Peace, perfect peace—in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace—by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace—with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace—with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.
Peace, perfect peace—our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
Hymnwriter Edward H. Bickersteth asks five times if we can have perfect peace with circumstances like this. He responds by pointing to our Prince of Peace. Isaiah says, “Shalom, shalom” (or “Peace, peace”) to those “whose mind is stayed on Thee” (Isa. 26:3). This is translated “perfect peace” in most current versions of the Bible and is a promise to followers of the “Lord of Peace” (2 Thess. 3:16).
The most common Greek form of the word “peace” is used 86 times in the New Testament and is found at the beginning or end of over ninety percent of the New Testament epistles. It is defined as completeness, soundness, or wholeness. H. A. Ironside states that peace is “…more than happiness, it is a deep-toned gladness that is unruffled and untroubled by all the trials of earth.” It is sometimes translated quietness or rest. It is the opposite of being troubled (inward peace), the opposite of calamity and war (outward peace), and the opposite of wrath, punishment, and judgment (Godward peace). This attribute of God is to permeate every sphere of our lives.
The Lord Jesus is the Prince of Peace. At His birth the Scripture says, “…and on earth peace…” (Lk. 2:14). Throughout His life He gave peace in the storm (Mk. 4:39), to two ailing women (Lk. 7 and 8), to His disciples (Lk. 24:36), and to many more. From the time of His miraculous birth to just before His ascension He offered peace to all. Just as everlasting life is found only in the Bread of life, lasting peace is found only in the Prince of Peace who gives of it so freely.
Concerning inward peace, Isaiah 26:3 states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.” We must keep our focus on Christ. We must daily remind ourselves of our frailty and of our need to abide in Him. Just as the Lord set His face stedfastly toward Jerusalem, we must set our face as a flint toward Him. It is only with this focus that we will experience the peace of God.
If we desire inward peace we must also choose the life of the spiritual and not the carnal. Romans 8:6 tells us, “…to be spiritually minded is…peace.” This is complemented by Psalm 119:165 that says, “Great peace have they that love Thy law.” Peaceful people are those who love obedience to the standards of our holy God. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of loving righteousness and hating evil. Every time we encounter wickedness we should let it increase our hatred of those things for which our Saviour died and further harden the steel of our resolve to keep ourselves unspotted from the things of the world. Second Peter 3:14 says it well, “…be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” Jesus Christ the Righteous deserves a bride that will be found spotless, and He wants us to have the life of peace that stems from such purity. We need only to choose it to be blessed with perfect peace.
Philippians 4:7 shows the importance of prayer in obtaining the inward peace of God. Prayer becomes a channel through which peace flows into our lives. Through it the “…peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (nkjv). When we lay our cares before the throne of grace, quietness and rest replace woe and anxiety. The Lord is the source of lasting peace. The more often we go to Him in prayer, the more often we open ourselves to be blessed with peace.
Romans 14:19 deals with outward peace in the context of our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. It admonishes us, saying, “…pursue the things which make for peace….” Paul tells us to value our brothers and sisters more than freedoms. Ephesians 4:3 says, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The Lord is pleased when we pursue peace. We cannot always attain it, but it is always possible to seek it (note the words “pursue” and “endeavoring”). Hebrews 12:14 expands this slightly by stating, “Pursue peace with all men.” Peace in our lives is to be sought in the home, at work, in the local church, and with all men. The Lord would desire us to have peace in our day-to-day relationships, as well as in our inner being. Can you make peace with someone today?
Lastly, we come to godward peace. To put faith in Christ is to be at peace with God. All who have come to know peace with God through Christ need to share the gospel of peace. Acts 10:36 says, “The word which God sent…preaching peace through Jesus Christ…” Romans 3:17 tells us that the unsaved world does not know “…the way of peace…” All those who know the Lord as Saviour are the recipients of tremendous peace with God. Today is the day to take the gospel of peace to the lost world. May we be found faithful to tell of His peace.
Do you have a lack of inward, outward, or Godward peace today? Does your heart long for the peace of God? The Scripture says that if we keep our eyes on Christ, choose purity, go to God in prayer, seek peace with all men (especially the brethren), and share the Prince of Peace with others, then God’s peace will be ours. The Lord has left us His peace. May we choose to live in this blessing!
As the children’s song says,
Peace, peace, I think I understand;
Peace, peace, is holding Jesus’ hand.
Written by Scott DeGroff