The Peace of God by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1907

The Peace of God

By I. H. Evans

THE peace of God is a gift to his children. It is not a commodity that can be bought and sold; it can not be won by mental attainments, by the will of man, or by any human effort separated from God. Christ said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”

The peace that God gives is not like the peace that the world gives; nor does the Lord give his peace in the way that the world gives its peace. “Not as the world giveth,” says the Master. “give I unto you.” The world has a sort of peace which it gives to those who seek its pleasures, its riches, its honors. To the lovers of pleasure it offers nights of revelry and days of dissipation; it promises to those who attend its halls of pleasure that it will give peace that will satisfy. But those who have drunk from its cup know that the peace which the world can give in the pleasures it offers, is not satisfying to the soul.

To those who seek riches, it offers the peace (if such there can be) which comes with large possessions, in stocks and bonds, in lands and real estate, in commerce and manufacturing industries.

But with great accumulation of wealth there comes a tremendous responsibility accompanied with constant fear and perplexity. The possession of wealth does not give soul satisfaction or rest. It is probable that there are but few rich people in this world who know what real peace or real happiness is. The other

day there appeared a note in one of America's leading dailies, with this headline: “$7,000,000 for One Happy Hour.—Ludwig Wolfe,” and these words are quoted from his lips: “Gladly would I give up my millions, this home, which is barren despite its splendors; my business, everything, for peace, for an hour of ease from my cares and worries. I have lost so many who are dear to me, I have suffered so much, that every hope is dead. Only in the grave do I expect to find rest from my woes.”

What a contrast is this lamentable cry from the heart of this multimillionaire to the song the Christian sings amid his poverty and suffering:—

“I am resting to-night in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control; I am kept from all danger by night and by day, And his glory is flooding my soul. “Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above; Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.”

Earthly honors can never give the peace that satisfies the heart. They may gratify the ambitions for an hour or a day, but there are other honors just beyond our grasp, and we are rarely long satisfied with what we have. The honors of earth are themselves a burden hard to bear. “Too much honor! O, ’tis a burden!—’tis a burden too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.”

But the peace which Christ promises to his followers is a gift from heaven, and is not dependent on others for a full enjoyment. The peace of heaven is a condition of soul-relationship with God, over which the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears, the riches and poverty of earth have little influence.

Lazarus at the rich man’s gate, begging the crumbs from the table of Dives, with only the dogs to nurse his wounds, could have the peace of God in his soul.

The peace of God, to be enjoyed, is not dependent on even good health, or the absence of physical pain. Who has not seen those whose bodies were distorted, and whose nerves were racked with constant suffering, happy and full of the peace of God?

A year ago I met a poor sufferer at a meeting in one of the Western States. She no sooner saw me, than, with a cheering smile, she greeted me in the name of the Lord. Twelve long years before I had met her lying in the same condition in the same wheel-chair. Since then she had not seen a well day. She had not walked a step, she had not fed herself a mouthful of food, nor helped herself to a single cup of water, yet she praised God for his love and goodness, and spread sunshine and happiness all about her.

One of the most happy Christians I ever knew was a man who had been stricken with paralysis in the very prime of life. In his presence the sick and suffering found comfort and hope, and in spite of great physical suffering the peace of God flooded his soul.

I remember a dear old lady past eighty years of age, alone, destitute, living on charity, yet so full of the sweet peace of God that all who knew her loved to visit her. I used to go to her humble little cottage Sabbath mornings, to get my own heart watered, and my own courage strengthened for the day’s labor.

‘In dungeon cells, behind prison bars, in hunger and thirst, in heat and cold, in sickness and penury, in death and loneliness, the hearts of men and women have been filled with the unspeakable peace of God.

This peace often comes to us in its flood-tide in life’s darkest hour,—when death has stricken down the dearest idol of the heart,—when misfortune has swept away our confidence in earthly treasures,—when some great temptation or sin has long held us prisoner in the castle of Despair, and by faith we break its bars, and in the fulness of our repentant hearts, we find forgiveness in Jesus’ name.

This peace is for every one of God’s children. Those who desire it can find it when they find Jesus. “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 afraid.”

I. H. EVANS.