For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. - Ephesians 2:14
When the storm struck the fishing smack, the disciples of Jesus cried out in terror to their Master, "Carest Thou not that we perish?" Jesus heard their shout above the howling winds, and He rose and rebuked the waves, saying, "Peace, be still." Surely the disciples, in recounting this experience, must have said, "He is our peace." The Greek word translated "troubled" actually means "storm-tossed." Thus, in our tempest-tossed experiences, we may call to our Saviour for help, and He will still the storms.
Jesus gives us the peace of a cleansed heart. When we confess our sins, the Great Physician kills the torturing infection, and we know the joy of salvation. "Confession," says Dr. William Osler, "becomes a vaccine against all morbid poisons left in the system by the infections of yesterday."
Our Saviour gives us the peace of a surrendered life. We can never give our will to Christ if it has been captivated by wealth, pleasure, ambition, or fame. When self rules the heart, there can be no true peace, for this tyrant wars against our better spiritual nature. Peace comes when self is dethroned and we allow the will of God to take possession. Then love and peace reign in the heart.
Jesus also gives us the peace of accepted suffering. Many people are in misery because they are forever rebelling against the trials and hardships that come their way. When our confidence is in God we accept His plan for us, knowing that He sees the end from the beginning and will allow no temptation to come which we cannot defeat. We realize that testing comes to burn the dross from our character. Therefore we have peace, accepting our daily experiences and rising above discouragement and defeat.
Thanks be to God for the peace of final and complete victory. With Paul let us say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7 - Neff
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