The Peace of God by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1903

The Peace of God

By Editor

Editorial

The Peace of God

There is personality in the peace of God. It is not simply a passive condition. Of Jesus it is written, “He is our peace.” And as there is personality, so there is power in the peace of God. For he who is our peace is “the power of God.” It is in the power of its personality as found in the Prince of peace that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It is thus evident that there is no such thing as the peace of God (God’s peace) apart from Christ, who has been sent unto us to make peace by being our peace. A blessing is pronounced upon peacemakers. The blessing, or the happiness, consists in sharing the peace which they convey to others. No one can make peace for others without enjoying it himself. Thus it is impossible for him to be deprived of the reward of his labor. The first place in which the peacemaker makes peace is in his own heart, and after that in the hearts of others. What a blessed experience to know the peace of God! What a blessed experience to share this peace with others!

“It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, And Jesus call to heaven’s perfect peace.”

After the Storm

The storm clouds have gathered in the sky, and the whole face of the sky was darkened by them. The sun was still shining up above the clouds, but we could not see it, and we waited with a certain degree of dread for the bursting of the storm. It came with much fury. It may be that the wind wrought much havoc, and the pelting rain beat down the standing crops and washed away many foundations. But suddenly there was a change. The rain ceased, the clouds broke away, and the sun again shone forth. The storm is over, and the sky puts on a new face. Thus it is in our experiences. There come times of stress and strain, and the whole being seems to be on the rack. But in the very midst of the crisis the grace of God does “much more abound,” the sunshine of his love breaks through the dark clouds of trouble, and peace comes again. It is the victory of the cross—the victory of self-surrender. Such experiences reveal the power of divine grace, and show up in a powerful light the beauty of the divine character. And this is Christianity—a Christianity which establishes itself and proves itself. And all this is wrought by the presence of Jesus, who quiets the storm. On one occasion when the disciples were on the water, “the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” Jesus drew near and said, “It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” It is the presence of Jesus which makes the storm a calm, and enables us to make progress toward the desired haven. How terrible is the storm! How blessed is the quiet after the storm! How gracious is the Master who brings quiet and rest after the storm!

The End

Prophecies fulfilled indicate that the end is near. The signs of the times emphasize the same fact. The people are “in expectation,” and many are consenting in their own minds that “the end of all things is at hand.” It is quite possible, however, that many persons think of the end as merely a time of destruction, the ushering in of nothingness. We all ought to remember that the end brings us to the beginning. This is clearly shown in the Scripture. Revelation brings us around again to Genesis. After describing the judgment scene and the second death,—the end of the reign of sin,—the revelator says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” But this is simply a return to the experiences at the beginning, for “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The end of the old order of things means the beginning of the new order of things, and the end of sin brings the reign of righteousness. “According to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” There will be an end to sin and sorrow, pain and death, while righteousness will take the place of sin, joy will take the place of sorrow, comfort will take the place of pain, and immortality will take the place of death. The end is simply the gateway to the beginning. Let the end come in order that we may be at the beginning. If we prepare for the end, we shall be ready for the beginning. And the preparation both for the end and for the beginning is the recognition of God. “Behold your God!” “Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”

“Look unto him, and be ye saved! O weary, troubled soul; O, look to Jesus while you may! One look will make thee whole.”