by Emmett Smith

Have you ever heard of Neville Chamberlain? He was the British Prime minister who was succeeded by Sir Winston Churchill. He is notorious for his appeasement of Hitler. He only sought "peace for our time"! But he failed to recognize that he was dealing with an enemy who could not be trusted and who did not want peace. Jeremiah wrote of some in his day who sound similar to Chamberlain. They falsely contradicted Jeremiah’s prophecy of Judah’s destruction, "saying ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 8:11).

Yet peace could have been theirs had they simply turned to the Lord. Solomon wisely said that, "When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Proverbs 16:7). However, we should never forget that the evil one is not trustworthy and that he doesn’t want peace! We are engaged in a spiritual war, whether we choose to admit it or not. Thus Paul’s admonitions regarding the armor and offensive weapons of the Christian warrior as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-20. Read that passage and remember that we are at war, and we will not be at peace with that enemy until the Lord’s return.

As David wrote,

"Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him." (Psalms 37:37-40)

Our salvation is from the Lord. If we take refuge in Him we have a future! We shall be victorious and we shall see peace. But as Isaiah said, "’There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’" (Isaiah 57:21). Paul told the Ephesians that Jesus Himself is our peace, having broken down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, and having reconciled us both to (made peace with) God in one body (the church) through the cross (Ephesians 2:14-18). As He Himself said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

So if we are at peace with God, we may acquire "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding". Even in the midst of turmoil. That peace is not attainable from the world!

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6,7)    

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