Peace in Darkness

I was struck by a greeting in Scripture the other day. So often I find that I will mentally skip over the beginning of the epistles as if they were standard boilerplate. But the apostles do not use words frivolously and even in their greetings we can find keys to understanding existence.

The greeting that caught my attention is Jude’s: “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you” (v2).

It’s a lovely thought. These are certainly three things I would like to have multiplied in my life. But mercy, peace, and love don’t just show up without reason. They are a response, an outflowing from the heart of someone who understands God’s goodness. And the understanding of God’s goodness is found in the Gospel.

As I lingered over these words, I thought of how often peace is mentioned throughout Scripture. It is a common greeting. It is the meaning of the name of the holy city Jerusalem. Christ bids “peace be with you” to the disciples after the Resurrection and, indeed, the Resurrection is the foundation of our peace. In the Resurrection, we have the assurance of salvation from our sin and of eternal life in Christ. In it we are assured that we have His righteousness, and that we who put our faith in Jesus Christ can live a new, victorious life, glorifying Him as we were created to do.

Peace is not merely the absence of strife. It also includes the presence of tranquility. We may think of peace as a passive thing, but it’s actually quite active, and very much so in this fallen world. I was remarking to Laurie that I often feel like I do not tarry long over the peace I have in Jesus Christ because I spend so much of this earthly life “stamping out little fires”. You might feel like this at times as well.

I find it encouraging that Scripture calls peace a fruit of the Spirit:
“. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). We Christians are called to be a people who are known for these things. Christ called peacemakers blessed: ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Mt. 5:9).

So, how do we “do” peace? Well, first of all, true peace can only come through finding peace with God—by understanding that we are sinners in need a savior and that God, in His love for us, provided one in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ his Son. We need to believe this; other people need to believe this. We reflect God’s love for us and extend his offer of peace by loving our neighbor (who is everyone) and by delivering this gospel message faithfully and truthfully.

Now, being a Christian does not mean that we magically stop facing opposition in this life. In fact, we have an enemy, and the Scriptures promise that we will face tribulation. In John 16, for example, after Christ promises his resurrection and return, the disciples suddenly exclaim, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!” (v 29). Jesus responds,  “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (v33).

Friend, this is not a peaceful world. It is a world ravaged by sin and the devil. We don’t find our peace in comfort and luxuries. We don’t find our peace in the circumstances of the moment. Our peace is found in Christ Jesus whose Spirit is with us regardless of the external circumstances. We know whom we believe and we know what He has promised.

Isaiah 48:22 tells us “’There is no peace’ says the Lord ‘for the wicked.’” (And why would there be, since there’s no basis for it?) Therefore, the peace that comes from knowing God is a threat to the status quo. The world will try to steal your shine and one of the ways the devil tries to do it is by diverting your focus from the gospel. It is possible to spend all of your time trying to combat the darkness of this world, commenting on every issue, constantly correcting, always stamping out fires. Of course there is an appropriate season for correction, but we must be careful not to allow the devil to reframe reality so that we are reduced to little more than commenting on him. Our job is not to comment on the darkness; our job is to bring the light. Our calling as Christians is to spread the gospel and make disciples of all the nations. Too many well-intentioned ministries end up becoming “anti-something” ministries rather than gospel ministries.

Yes, Folks, the world is dark. What it needs is the light. What the people of the world need is not another group booing their side. What they need is to know that God loved them while they were still sinners and to believe in Christ for salvation.

Whatever your circumstances, let the light of the gospel illuminate your path in this dark, dark world. Turn continually to Christ. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Pr 3:6). I can assure you that the little fires we must stamp out are infinitesimal compared to the coming fullness of God’s goodness in the new heaven and new earth.

May peace be what you are known for, the peace that only comes from trusting in Jesus Christ. Indeed, may peace be multiplied to you.