The Priceless Value of Peace in Perilous Times

You can see the law of supply and demand playing out in times like this, and it might be surprising, or expected, to see how the value of commodities shifts. Surprisingly toilet paper has become a highly valued commodity, and expectedly things like food (staples), water, and security have shown themselves to be the solid needs that remain when much of the chaff has been blown away. In the same way the concrete needs of the soul have become evident. As much as we've been doing our best to make good use of this "shelter-in-place" time, and likely been binging on too much entertainment, the uncertainty of everything taking place is gnawing away at us like termites. And like termites, the damage done may not be seen for a long time, and when it is, it is devastating because it has eaten away at the very foundation - Matthew 7:24-29 comes to mind.

As the stock market overall has tumbled a bit, some have done better than others. We've seen companies like Costco, GOJO (maker of Purell hand sanitizer), and ZOOM do well, and be poised for significant growth as things get "back to normal" whenever that might be. If there was a ticker for peace, I think it'd be 'PEAC', and its value would be skyrocketing. Everyone wants to have an internal peace for their soul. This is often less evident, or not felt as much during times of relative peace and ease, and therefore its value can be somewhat lost on us. However, in times of 'war' or 'instability' like we are in now, the value of peace is one of the most glaring needs and desires we have. Do you have peace right now? How secure is your peace? If things continue to escalate and drag out, will your peace hold? There is a peace that God gives that holds through the fiercest storms life, and even death, can bring.

Yes there is a peace God gives that "surpasses understanding" (Philippians 4:7) that I want to help you understand, lol, or at least show you. Before we get peace, we must first meet grace; the grace of God. As sinners, we are naturally at war with God (Romans 8:7), and we cannot just get peace with God because we need it or want it. A peace-treaty must be put in place, and it must be executed by the stronger side (guess which side that is). The good news, in fact the great news is that a treaty has been signed - in blood - at the cross! When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it's as if he signed a peace treaty between a Holy God -and- sinful people. At the cross all the wrath due for the sin of the world was placed upon Jesus, so that we can be made right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). At the cross the amazing grace of God was displayed and offered to all who would receive it (John 1:12). You cannot receive the peace of God without first receiving this Grace of God, and oh how sweet His grace is!

I don't know what a perfect day looks like for you, but a perfect day for me would be a sunny day in the mountains with the family, hiking alongside a flowing river, hopping from rock to rock with my boys on our way to a summit. That's why I love the verse in Psalm 46:4-5 about a river that, "makes glad the city of God" which makes me think of the imagery that must've been in the mind of Horatio Spafford when he wrote the great hymn, "It is well with My Soul". The first stanza says, "When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know It is well, it is well, with my soul." If or when you know the situation that caused Horatio to write this song, you will know that those "sea billows" were significant, so how much more significant that peace must have been!

I want to tie all this in together by anchoring us in the promises of peace as given in the Word of God. Meditate on these:

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
-Psalm 16:8

3 "You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."
-Isaiah 26:3-4

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
-John 16:33

There are many, many more (395 more), but take these a couple times a day and we'll check back tomorrow.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Jason

PS - HERE is our latest message on 7 Pillars of Peace found in Romans 8:1-39 (did you memorize it yet!?)