Have You Made Peace with God?

Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

I was in the hospital talking to a man who will soon leave this world. I asked him what he would say when God asked, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” His answer was one I have heard on many other occasions – “I have made my peace with God.”

Obviously, the word “peace” and its origin is somewhat misunderstood by so many people today. There is tremendous truth in the statement made by the psalmist. There is great peace for those who love God’s Word and trust in Him for salvation.

We are familiar with the Hebrew word for peace – “shalom.” When used as a greeting it says – “May it be well with you,” or “May you have prosperity and have things the way they ought to be.” There is the sense of favor, health and welfare embedded in the word.

The New Testament word is different. In John 14:27, Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I GIVE UNTO YOU. This word includes the idea of quietness, rest and again, prosperity. Jesus had told the disciples that He would be going away. For them, it was an hour of sorrow and in the midst of what they were experiencing, Jesus promised them this UNIQUE PEACE, not the kind of peace the world can give, but HIS PEACE.

This was not the promise of freedom from trouble, affliction and persecution, but a calmness that comes from knowing, trusting and walking with him regardless of the circumstances around us. One find’s this peace in Christ alone.

This is so important because people are seeking for peace in vain. Some people equate peace with happiness. Happiness is the quality or state of being happy, when someone has good fortune, pleasure, contentment, joy, bliss, contentedness, delight or exhilaration. The word “hap” comes from an old English word meaning “by chance.” The indication is that happiness comes from chance. Peace is something far deeper, totally the opposite of our searching or struggling for it.

“I made my peace with God.”

It cannot be done! The only real peace is the peace of God and IT IS A GIFT when we are in a right relationship with Him. For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14). Christ Himself, not just what He did. He is the only way mankind can ever achieve peace with God. Augustine prayed, “O God, Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls will never be at rest until they rest in Thee.” George Morrison defined peace as “the possession of adequate resources.” We have all of the resources we need in Christ and the greater our relationship is with Him, the greater will be our peace.

We need to understand that there is a false peace. Jesus said that the peace He gives to us would not be as the world gives (John 14:27). The Apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Thessalonians 5:27 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. There are so many who are filled with vain imaginations in their search for peace even settling for that which will quickly dissipate. There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

Romans 5:1 is the key. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not a feeling of peace but a state or position of peace. While sinners are the enemies of God, those who are in Christ know the joy of having their sins forgiven and experience a peace that the world knows nothing about. It is a peace that is beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7).

How would you respond to the question, “Have you made your peace with God?” I trust you will say “NO.” Then continue – “Jesus settled that matter for me long ago through what He did on my behalf at Calvary’s cross and at the resurrection.”

To have the peace of God means that God has wonderfully BLESSED you. The psalmist says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:1, 2, 5).

If that is your testimony, praise God today for His wonderful joy and peace. If not, why not imitate the psalmist and receive God’s gift of peace. Jesus Christ Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). The secret is on relationship and not religion, experiencing fellowship daily with God Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ.

George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.