The unpredictability of life can oftentimes put us on “edge,” making us hesitant, cautious, and even fearful. When we don’t know how things will turn out, our imagination, however rooted in education and experience, works to create alternate “endings” to the current chapter in our lives. Generally, these only contribute to our angst.
We are living in uncertain times, unpredictable times, perhaps, even dangerous times. There seems to be little help as we survey our surroundings. Surely, truth is a rare commodity and confusion seems to have its way with our society. We ask ourselves where is this leading and how will it leave us. Is instability, uncertainty, and their resulting strife and anxiety the new normal?
Augustine, one of the early church fathers, asserted that “Man shall never find rest until he rests in Jehovah.” The plain truth is that man was made to be satisfied with God and Him alone. In our society we have looked to our jobs, our houses, our credit scores, our families, our schools, government, and even our churches. But, our current events highlight plainly that such things cannot bring about tranquility. Man is incapable of creating his own peace.
Only God gives peace. Job tells us that “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Experience teaches us that life is full of storms, but we can weather them all in quietness of soul if God is our refuge. But to know and enjoy the peace of God, we must first have peace with God.
Since Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, man has been at war with God by virtue of his sin. Man’s sin is an affront to a holy God. The Psalmist relates, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee” (Psalm 5:4). But God, who is rich in mercy, sent his Son, Jesus, to redeem us from sin and reconcile us to God. Christ did this by dying for us on the cross and shedding his blood in payment for our sin. It is through this blood-bought redemption that we have the forgiveness of sins and, consequently, peace with God.
As we see, this peace with God comes at a great price though not a price exacted upon us, but upon God himself, i.e. the death of his Son. His word declares, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…for if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8-10).
This peace purchased by the blood of Christ is available to all, but it is only granted to them that believe. Put your faith in Christ. Know peace with God and “the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (I Thessalonians 3:16).
From the Chaplain 