“God calms our troubled souls”
John 14:23-27
Some historians believe that the first world war was one of the bloodiest confrontations in modern history. Ten million soldiers and more than fifteen millions civilians died in that conflict. The protagonists were; Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey on one side, and England, France and Russia on the other side. This war devastated large portions of Europe and brought untold misery to nations involved in the war. After the war, leaders of nations came together to form the League of Nations for the purpose of avoiding similar confrontations in the future. After suffering so much from the war, the leaders of nations especially in Europe formed this body to monitor military activities of member countries so that differences could be resolved peacefully without trading bullets. Everybody wanted peace after seeing and experiencing the horrors of war. However, in 1936 the second world war broke out, and once again the world was thrown into a much bigger conflict with much more powerful weapons. The League of Nations was unable to stop the conflagration and countries were devastated because of the conflict.
The people of Zamboanga City and in Mindanao have our share of the disasters and tragedies in armed conflicts. What happened in Maguindanao shows that conflicts and troubles are hard realities in this world. When we see the horrifying effects of war, we long for peace. There is no question that many people want peace, but how can we attain peace in this world?
Some suggest that if you want to have peace in this world, you should be stronger than anyone else because when you are strong nobody will dare to disturb you. You can easily kick your enemies out and even beat them into submission. A lot of people worship those who have power and strength and if you possess them you can rest peacefully because nobody would dare wake up a sleeping giant. If you have the power to make your enemies disappear, then you will be peaceful. However, this peace is temporary because somewhere in the future someone will be stronger and more powerful than yourself, and your troubles will emerge. When a male lion is young he controls the pack and he can do as he pleases because his strength is feared by those around him, but when he gets older younger ones will challenge him and eventually take his place.
Others suggest that if you want to attain peace in this world you should be richer than anyone because you can buy all the weapons you want, you can build a fortress to keep intruders out, and you can hire soldiers to keep watch while you sleep. No body would try to disturb you because your money can keep your enemies away. However, somewhere in the future your money will say goodbye to you and you will be left with no peace in your heart. Only those whose peace is founded on the unlimited resources of God will remain calm even when earthly resources are gone.
Still others suggest that if you want peace in this world, you should be smarter than anyone because you can manipulate your way around and keep your enemies at bay. If you are smart enough you can make yourself invisible to your enemy and even hurt them without exposing yourself. If you are smart enough you can invent gadgets which will keep your enemies out and unable to penetrate your defenses, so you can sleep tightly at night. However, somewhere in the future someone will be smarter than yourself and they can hurt you without exposing themselves, then all your defenses will crumble.
In this world, you will find peace when you isolate yourself from the rest of the population. If you stay on a remote island or in the middle of a deserted place no one would bother you and you can have some rest from the troubles of this world. You can sleep soundly knowing that you are alone and nobody will try to harm you. However, this peace is temporary because your real enemy is not from without but from within. That enemy is already there before you were born and he constantly attacks you through your body, heart and mind.
If real peace cannot be found in our strength, resources, intelligence or even in isolation, then where can we find it? Jesus said in John 14:23-27 “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you and my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Real peace is found in the eternal presence of God. Jesus said that he will come and make his home with us. If God makes his home with us, then there is nothing in this world and even in the world to come that can disturb us.
In Leviticus 26:3-8, “ If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops, and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the Land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
A rebellious and disobedient heart will never find peace until it surrenders itself to God who rules and reigns over all. The troubled history of Israel and Judah testify to the fact that disobedience to God will result in chaos and conflict. When God’s presence was with his people they experienced peace and prosperity.
Real peace is found in the eternal word of God. Jesus said, “But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Every time a high ranking official comes to our city, we flock around and listen to him, because words coming from high ranking officials can bring peace to our hearts when they assure us that they are here to serve and protect us. How much more for the words coming from the eternal God can bring peace to our hearts.
When Apostle Paul was brought to Rome as a prisoner, he encountered a storm which threatened his life and the lives of his companions. But God’s words encouraged him and gave him peace. Acts 27:21-26 “After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul, You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage men for I have faith in God that It will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless we must run aground on some island.” God’s word to Paul gave him peace in the midst of a very dangerous situation.
When Moses was facing a great challenge in his life as leader of God’s people, he turned to God and listened to him for comfort and direction. This is what God said to him in Exodus 23:20-30 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says, Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my name is in him. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” God’s word to Moses assured him that no one will be able to touch him as he advances towards the promise land.
We are on our journey from here to eternity and we are facing various challenges in life, but we have peace in our souls not because we have great strength, enormous resources or superior intelligence. We have peace in our souls because we have the eternal presence of God and we follow the eternal word of God.
In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley's execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life. Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord to meet his need.
