Don’t Surrender Your Peace!

In the midst of life’s uncertainties, Jesus promises a peace that the world can never take away. Speaking to His disciples on the night of His betrayal, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). While the peace of Christ cannot be taken away, it can be surrendered through unbelief and disobedience.

True peace is found in Jesus who said, “in Me you may have peace.” The Bible’s list of things that produce peace is quite different from world’s. Material wealth does not make for peace. Neither does power, influence, or sensual gratification. Such pursuits will surely end in frustration as might be best described by Solomon as “striving after the wind.” It is only in relationship to the Prince of Peace, that true satisfaction may be found (Isa. 9:6 cf. Eph. 2:14).

Such peace is built upon the words of Jesus who said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.” His words must not be overlooked in our pursuit of peace. In his profession of faith in the Lord, Peter plainly confessed, “You have words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68). Accepting or rejecting the words of Jesus provides the basis for determining our eternal destiny (Jn. 12:48). In promising the apostles the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (Jn. 14:26). What follows is Christ’s precious promise: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (vs. 27).

The peace promised by our Lord cannot be taken from us so long as we are protected by the power of God through faith in Christ (1 Pet. 1:5). However, as already stated, we can surrender our peace by abandoning our relationship to Christ. Make sure that you are not pressured in that direction by the uncertainties so prominently highlighted by the world around us.

~Glen Eliot