The Way to Peace

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

What comes to mind when you hear the word peace? Perhaps you think of armies laying down their weapons on a battlefield, or leaders signing treaties. Or perhaps you think of curling into a comfy chair with a blanket and a cup of coffee, staring out a view of the ocean.

But, deep down, we all long for something deeper. We long for a peace that can wash over us, flooding the uttermost depths of our souls—a peace that will last longer than a few moments of silence over a cup of coffee. We want a permanent peace.

You may ask, is such peace even possible?

Yes. But not necessarily in the way you would expect. You see, peace like we experience on a quiet morning or watching a sunset are just a taste of the real thing. Those moments are limited, because we only experience that kind of peace when things are good or when we are able put aside—at least for the moment—the things that are hard or painful in our lives.

But all too soon, the moment passes, and we find ourselves picking up our burdens and trudging on through life. We carry those burdens—guilt, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, trauma or painful memories from the past—and try as we might, we cannot rid ourselves of them. We may experience moments of relief, but it’s never real, and it never lasts.

One of the most famous pieces of Christian literature is Pilgrim’s Progress, and allegorical tale by John Bunyan. In it is a striking picture of what it feels like to live without peace. Christian, the protagonist, is weighed down by a large and heavy burden on his back. Looking for a way to be free from it, he trudges along, meeting various people and facing various challenges until he finds his way to the foot of the cross. There, as he looks up at the cross, his burden slips from his back and goes rolling away, never to be carried again.

 It’s a fictional scene, but it illustrates a real-life truth. Are you carrying a heavy load today? Jesus said,

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Jesus, who is God Himself, has purchased our peace by paying for our sins with His own blood.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:13-14)

The reason you and I have a longing for peace is because something very fundamental is broken. You and I were made for close relationship with God, but God is holy, and when we sin, we break His perfect law. Our sin separates us from God, and creates that deep uneasiness, the empty void God alone can fill.

But God is loving. He wants that relationship to be restored, and so Jesus came. He left all the perfection and glory of heaven and lived sinlessly on earth, then died willingly, taking on Himself the penalty of your sin and mine, so that forgiveness could justly be given to the human race. I love how this verse expresses it:

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Not only that, but Jesus rose from the dead—not as a spirit or a ghost, but bodily, to show that He had conquered the power of sin and death over all of humanity. That is partly why Jesus chose to take on Himself a human body, and live a human life:

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death, He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

The forgiveness Jesus’ death and resurrection made possible is a free gift: the gift of peace with God. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

It is the grace of God that offers us full and free forgiveness through the blood of Christ. And that forgiveness, the restoration of our relationship with God, is the only thing that can ever bring us true and lasting peace.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2)

Dear Reader, are you at peace with God today? Have you accepted His gift of full and free forgiveness? You can know true and lasting peace, peace only God can give you. Talk to Him about your burdens, your sin, ask for His forgiveness, and He will fully, freely grant it—and with it His peace.

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7)