The Peace of God by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1909

The Peace of God

By C. M. S.

MILLIONS of dollars are being spent every year in the effort to bring about a condition of peace. Austria has offered to pay more than ten million dollars to Turkey in one sum in order to preserve peace between the two nations. The United States paid Spain twenty million dollars in one sum to facilitate the securing and maintenance of peace after taking Cuba, Porto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines out from under Spain’s jurisdiction. China agreed to pay “the powers” of Europe and the government of the United States an aggregate of three hundred twenty million dollars to prevent dismemberment of the empire by those nations after the Boxer uprising had been quelled. A palace of peace is now being erected at The Hague, to cost one and one-half million dollars. An international peace congress has been established to bring about the tranquillity of the world. The inhabitants of Chile and Argentina have built a great statue of the Saviour on a peak of the Andes where the borders of the two nations touch, hoping thus forever to forestall war and insure tranquillity. The nations are making new treaties every year to compel themselves to keep the peace.

What the nations are doing on so large a scale and so ineffectually, individuals are attempting on a scale proportionate to their ability. The god of wealth — or the demon of desire — holds before the multitude constantly the dream of happier and more peaceful days when income or possessions are sufficiently increased. They want peace, and to get it, clamber over the ruins of others’ hopes and homes, and still see that alluring, dangerous ignis fatuus just beyond their grasp.

Others, ignoring or forgetting the Word, and still seeking peace and soul rest, turn to those who promise both but can give neither. The world is seeking peace, but it wants it in its own way, in its own time, in its own measure, and through a source of its own discovery. They forget that God has never guaranteed peace to any save as a foretaste of heaven — an experience which can be partaken of by none save the children of God. He has not guaranteed even to them any peace save that kind which is able to endure in the very midst of tribulation. Jesus said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” But he added: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. He who is of good cheer in the midst of tribulation is enjoying peace. In spite of the tribulation which the Spirit knew would come, he admonishes us thus: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Col. 3:15. Here is illustrated the difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. To the soul anchored in Christ the billows of trouble are not dangerous. To the soul not so anchored every wave of trouble drives him toward soul ruin. Buffeted, but not cast down; tried, but not discouraged; persecuted, but triumphant through the persecution; threatened on every hand, but still resting in a peace that can not be taken away,—this is the experience of the soul surrendered to Christ and regenerated through the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Our Saviour spoke of a class of professed followers of the Word who would accept its teachings gladly, but “when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.” This is the “fair-weather” Christian, who serves God when the skies are clear, the fields green, the crops good, friends abundant, money plenty, and no trouble in sight. Such get no permanent good for themselves out of life’s experiences, and are like rotten timbers in a building. When the stress comes, they break, and endanger other portions of the structure.

The heart and purpose of the true Christian are laid bare in the following questions and answers indited by Inspiration: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in

Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:35-39. It was immediately after Paul’s stoning at Lystra that he declared to the disciples, “Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.”

The experience of the Christian is a paradox to the man of the world. To be stoned, and feel no enmity; to be robbed, and take it joyfully; to be reviled, and revile not again; to be whipped and imprisoned, and yet praise God in song and prayer; to be crucified upon a cross, and yet pray for the murderers—these are beyond the comprehension of the unconverted man. He seeks to get peace by removing the things that worry him, or by fighting against those who oppress him. That is the human idea of peace, and the human means of working it out. But it only adds to the confusion of the world.

Our Lord has not permitted Satan to entirely control the affairs of the race. While the world is earnestly longing for peace, and while Satan is putting forth a spurious peace founded in selfishness, that is bringing the world more trouble in the effort to obtain it, our Saviour assures us that there is a true and satisfying peace that men may have even now. Said he: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.” John 14:27. Christ had peace in a tossing boat, while his companions were racked with fears. They had not yet apprehended that peace “which passeth all understanding.” To them as yet peace could come only with the removal of the things that seemed against them. But when they had learned in the school of Christ what it means to have the peace of God, they could look for peace and expect peace without any regard to environment or circumstances. Then they could permit the thing that seemed against them to do its office work in shaping their characters, burning away the dross, polishing the jewel. The Spirit taught them, as it would teach us, that “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” It is nothing but the possession of the peace of God that will enable us to bring such a glorious result out of the multitudinous tribulations and buffetings of this world. The way we relate ourselves to the experiences of each day is determining whether we are being fashioned in the likeness of the character of Christ, or whether we are seeking peace on the plan of the world, and courting the disappointment that must finally come to all worldly projects.

The Spirit’s admonition to us is that we should be “patient in tribulation.” Again: “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” That is the condition that will be attained by those who are “accounted worthy to obtain that world.” It is no small thing to exercise the patience which true Christian living demands in the midst of all the troublesome tendencies and evil inclinations of this age. “Ye have need of patience,” says Inspiration, “that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:36, 37. And “he that shall come” makes this encouraging promise to his faithful followers:—

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10.

That hour of this world’s great temptation is drawing near; the forces of evil that will bring it about are being mustered for the fray; but during all the time of its duration there will be a little band, perfected through tribulation, patient through suffering, kept by the omnipotent arm of the Prince of Peace. Of them he says: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” They have not poured out wealth to bring peace; they have not confederated with organizations of men to compel peace; they have not disarmed nations to bring it about; but through all their trying experiences they have had the peace of God and exemplified the patience of Christ. It will be worth more than human mind can estimate to be counted a member of that little patient band in that day.

C. M. S.