Peace, Real Peace

It seems every one is talking about peace. Searching for peace

or longing for peace. But, where is it?

Webster, you know, the smart man that wrote the dictionary,

said peace is, "1. freedom from war or a stopping of war..." So I

thought I would check and see how many wars need to stop

for peace.

Guess what? There are so many wars [Armed conflicts] going

on that I simply gave up counting them. The wars going on

today are even listed by the intensity and casualties of the war.

So how big does the war have to be to be counted.?

Webster also said peace is, "5. an undisturbed state of mind;

absence of mental conflict; serenity; in full peace of mind..."

I do not watch T.V. My mind has too much trash in it now.

But there are members of my family that watch a show every

night from 4 pm to 5 pm called "Judge Judy"It seems there is

nothing but social strife going on there. And they tell me there

are a bunch of other "judge" shows. It makes you wonder if there

is peace anywhere among people.

Or consider how almost weekly in the news some celebrity has

committed suicide. Just watching the news will show you that

fame or riches does not offer peace. In this country the 10th

leading cause of death is suicide. It is reported that 44,193 people

die from suicide in this country every year. And that there are 25

attempted suicides for every successful one. Talk about peace

and contentment. Riches and fame does not bring it.

Or consider the huge increase in antidepressants over the last

couple of decades. It appears that about one in ten Americans

are on an antidepressant of some sort.

Perhaps it's time to consider the though advanced by Rochefoucauld:

"If we have not peace within ourselves,

it is vain to seek it from outward sources."

Yet in this old world full of strife, fighting, struggle and discontentment

many people have found peace, true peace. Let me share just a

couple of instances with you.

Consider the case of Horatio G. Spafford, the writer of the Hymn

"It Is Well With My Soul".

Mr. Spafford was a successful lawyer and investor. My understanding

is that he was a very wealthy man. But it was like life it's self turned

against him. It begin with his small son dying at only two years of age.

Then the "Great Chicago Fire" of 1871 wiped out his real estate holdings.

He had a great deal of property along the lake front in Chicago and lost

it all.

This was followed by the economic down turn of 1873., Mr Spafford

was now wiped out. So he and his wife decide to go the Europe for a

vacation and refreshment. They booked passage on the SS Ville du Havre.

At the last minute Mr. Spafford had some zoning problems come up

with the business. Thus he had his wife and four daughters go ahead

with the intention of following them shortly.

The SS Ville du Havre was involved in a ship wreck with the Loch Earu.

The SS Ville du Havre sank very quickly and his four daughters were

drowned. His wife only survived.

Now here is the difference. Mr. Spafford had a living vital relationship to

the Lord Jesus Christ. The very peace of God reside in Mr. Spafford and

when he latter sailed to join his wife, near the spot where his daughters

had drowned he was able to pen the words to his famous song "It Is Well

With My Soul". He starts it off this way:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea

billows roll; What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know It is well,

it is well, with my soul."

Or consider the case of as friend of mine many years ago and several

states away. This friend and I worked together and spent time doing

things together away from work.

There was one outstanding characteristic of this young man. He was

a great "worrier". I suppose the worlds best worrier. In fact if he did

not have something to worry about - that worried him. All this and he

was not even married yet. [O.K. So this last sentence is my way of

making a joke. I love being married. I cannot imagine life with out a

good wife.]

I had been talking to him about God and his relationship to Christ.

Well, his lack of a relationship withGod. I do not remember the

details well now, but I do remember him calling me one night and

saying something like. "I went and did what you told me to do." And

I though, "O sure. He is just trying to make me happy." We will see.

Do you know what? The kid quit worrying. Completely quit. And

he had the peace of God down in him. His life changed completely.

Please take the time to consider one more. My own experience.

I have been "walking" with God, or trying to live with and for him for

many years. But about three years ago I about died. My body quit

making blood. Now you many not know it. But you cannot live with

out blood. For a period of time I as facing death daily. My healing

is another story. But the point I want make is that while facing death,

I had no fear whatever of death. You see, God and I settled

our relationship problem years ago. It is true, I felt some what

incomplete. I wished I had done more for the Lord. But death it's

self held no fear.

Note" It is a trend today to only report "good" near death experiences.

In fact a number of authors have refused to include "bad" near death

experiences in their works. But bad near death experiences are plentiful.

Consider the famous infidel Voltaire. The details are beyond this report.

But the nurse attending him at the time of his death said;

"For all the wealth of Europe I would never see another infidel die."

Voltaire saw what was coming to him and was near insane as a result.

If you wish to pursue this though further consider these two books.

"TO HELL AND BACK" by Maurice S. Rawlings, M.D. or

"Dying Testimonies" By Shaw. This book appears to be available

in several different editions by Solomon Shaw and/or SB Shaw.

It was Thomas a Kempis who said:

"All men desire peace, but very few desire those

thing that make peace."

There in lays the answer. We want peace. But we want it

our way. And our way does not work because we ignore God,

the one who holds our very life in his hands. The one we will

be standing before in judgement some day. He is the one who

said:

"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked."

(Isa. 48:22 RSV)

Do you lack that deep personal peace that will sustain you

through the storms of life? It is simple, you are not walking

in God's way. God wants to have a relationship with you

that is closer than your best friend.

R.A. Torrey that great evangelist back in about 1910 said it

this way:

"A true Christian life is a personally conducted life, conducted

at every turn by a divine person. It is the believer's privilege to

be absolutely set free from all care and worry and anxiety as to

the decisions which he must make at any turn of life. The Holy

Spirit undertakes all that responsibility for us."

(THE PERSON & WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

R.A/. Torrey p.112)

The Holy Bible says:

"To be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Rom. 8:6

When Jesus Christ was here on earth he said:

"...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." -Jn.10:10

HOW CAN I HAVE THIS PEACE"

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner) to God. That is the prayer

he is waiting to hear from you.

2. Be willing to turn from yours sins (repent) Quit living your

own way and turn and begin to live with and for God.

3.Believe that Jesus Christ died for you an the Cross and rose

from the grave.

4.Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control

your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

It is by faith that we are made right with God.

"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through

our Lord Jesus Christ." -Rom. 5:1

Put your mind on God and the things of God.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is

stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." - Isa. 26:3

Like the song, "Is your All on the Altar?" says:

"You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,

As you yield Him your body and soul."

"The God of peace be with you all. Amen." - Rom. 15:33