"WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN
YOU FIND PEACE?" Written and preached by David P. Nolte
JOHN 14:27, 16:32, 33
It's on all our minds. How could it help but be? Our complacency, our
security, our peace was shattered on Tuesday, September 11. Some panic,
some dig in for the long haul, some are bewildered, but most of us are
asking, "Where in the world can you find peace?" If it's not conflict in
some other part of the world, it's fear of terrorism in our own land. If
it's not an international crisis, it's a national crisis, or a personal
crisis that threatens to undo us. As long as we live in a world where sin
abounds, where man rebels against God, where selfishness is the motive,
we are going to find people and situations that attack our peace. I'm talking
about peace on all levels: Peace with God. Peace with others. Peace within
ourselves. In all those areas of life we might be asking, "Where in the
world can you find peace?" Let me say that peace is not a set of circumstances
or serene conditions. Peace is a matter of the heart and mind. God's peace
is not the removal of all troubles or conflicts. Peace is not merely the
end of external strife. It is His presence, power and promise at work in
us in the very midst of trouble and conflict. So, "Where in the world can
we find peace?" The story of a little boy helps us think through that question.
Jeremy was a ten year old boy who had worked and saved for over a year
to buy a bicycle. It was a brand new bike and he was proud of it. He used
it to deliver his papers. Jeremy was crushed when someone had the temerity
to steal his bicycle. He couldn't believe that something like that could
happen to him. We can hardly believe it when things upset us in life, either.
But from time to time, they just do. Stuff happens.
THERE ARE THINGS WHICH STEAL
OUR PEACE:
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." He said, "In this world
you have trouble." The words are plain: We will have problems. There will
be those things that trouble us, vex us, upset us and steal our peace --
if we allow them to.
Well, what are some of the thieves of peace? What are some of the things
which sneak up onto our porch and take our serenity? There are many thieves:
Worry and anxiety will strip us of peace. We fall into the "What if this?
What if that? What if the other thing?" trap and are robbed of contentment.
Always wanting what we don't have and a spirit of discontentment will take
our peace.
Focusing on unpleasant circumstances and getting "under" them will rob
us of our peace.
Conflict with other people, unresolved anger and alienation are sure to
strip us of peace.
Pain and illness can rob us of peace.
Disappointment and disillusionment will take our peace if we let them.
Change. Things being different, especially irreversible changes can plunder
our peace.
Loss of personal control. We may not be able to make our own decisions,
or to care for ourselves, or to drive a car, or hold a job anymore. That
can strip our peace.
Unconfessed and unforsaken sin. When we are not right with God, we rob
ourselves of peace.
Like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, these situations and circumstances
will, if we let them, denude us of peace.
If you knew a thief was coming to your house, you'd do all you could to
protect yourself. You'd install an alarm system, you'd buy a Rottweiler,
you'd notify the police, and you'd lock the doors. To be forewarned is
to be forearmed. If you are alert to these thieves of peace, if you recognize
them for what they are you can lock the door against them. They may come
into your life, but you don't have to allow them to overpower, to bind,
or to steal your peace.
Jeremy's bike was stolen and he was crushed. The local paper printed the
story and set up a fund to accept donations to buy Jeremy another bike.
A local dentist, Dr. Michael Maroon, read the account and was moved. He,
too, had his bike stolen when he was a boy. He never got it back and was
heartbroken. Jeremy's story brought back bitter memories and he, like the
newspaper, wanted to do something to replace the bike. When something steals
our peace, we usually try to do something to replace it.
WE TRY TO RESTORE OUR PEACE
IN OUR OWN WAYS:
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; 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." John 14:27
(NIV). Of course,
we want to be able to do that. But how? Often we try to find peace as the
world gives it.
There are a number of things people do to restore their peace when it has
been stolen.
Some hide out in fear. They reason that if they lock their doors, bar the
way, and shut others out, nothing can get in to hurt them.
Some turn to substances to blunt their senses. In drunkenness or drug use
they hope to find peace.
Some turn to occult practices. They want to find help and guidance in the
Ouija board or tarot cards or seances or the horoscope.
Some try to bluff it out. Like the little boy who was told, "When you are
afraid, just whistle" as though that pretense of calm would make him calm.
Some think they need to arm themselves. Applications for gun permits have
never been higher.
Some try religion. Those who never had time for God before are dropping
to their knees in droves.
All these things in a quest for peace. Some only increase our distress.
Some only blind us to our plight.
To seek peace in those ways is futile. The peace that Jesus gives is not
like that of the world.
World's: External. His: Internal.
World's: Circumstantial. His: In spite of circumstances.
World's: Temporal. His: Eternal.
World's: Fragile. His: Strong and unshaken.
The world has it's approach and plan to recovering peace. The newspaper
and Dr. Maroon both came up with plans to replace Jeremy's bike. Dr. Maroon
phoned Jeremy's home and spoke with his mother. He learned what brand,
size and color of bicycle had been stolen and where it had been purchased.
He went to that store and bought a brand new bike: same kind, same size,
same color. He delivered it to Jeremy as a gift. Instead of trying to create
our own peace, we need to learn a vital lesson:
WE NEED TO DISCOVER THAT PEACE IS A GIFT:
Jesus said, "My peace I give to you." The word for "give" here means to
"cause, to deliver, to bestow." It is an active word implying that Jesus
doesn't just make peace available if we want to work, or seek, or go after
it. He gives it to those who trust Him.
Listen to these other affirmations:
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you
peace."
Psalms 29:11 (NIV)
"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with
peace."
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every
way. The Lord be with all of you."
It is like someone giving you a check for $1,000.00. They may freely give
it, but there are conditions upon receiving it: You must take it to the
bank, endorse and cash or deposit it. God has given you a gift. Peace is
a gift. So, how do we realize, or experience that peace? There are conditions:
Psalms 34:14 "Turn
from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Turn from evil and do good. It is sin and disobedience that creates a lot
of our unrest.
Seek and Pursue peace. Be a peacemaker. Be an advocate of peace. Make peace
the quest of your life.
Isaiah 26:3, 4 (NIV)
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he
trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the
Rock eternal." Another rendering is "Thou will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Two things:
Keep your mind fixed on God. Think about Him, speak to Him frequently and
constantly.
Trust in Him. He will not fail you.
John 14:1 (NIV)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." Two
things again:
Don't let your hearts be troubled. That implies that you have more control
over your thoughts than you may imagine. Don't think worried, troubled
thoughts. Displace them with other, more positive thoughts.
Trust Him. He is able to take care of things over which you have no control.
Philippians 4:6, 7 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus." Note again:
Pray. This lifts the load up to God. This opens your life to His power
and blessing. It gives you peace.
Give thanks. This creates positive thinking. This focuses on what you have
not on what you don't have. It gives you peace.
Peace is a gift! A gift is something given, freely. You can't earn it or
pay for it or it is not a gift. God has a gift to give you. It's bought
by blood. It's wrapped in grace. It's tied up in love. The gift is His
peace.
Dr. Maroon gave Jeremy the bike as a gift. The expression on Jeremy's face
was all the thanks Dr. Maroon needed. The boy jumped on his bike and rode
it happily up and down the sidewalk. Nine years later, at a dental convention,
a lady approached Dr. Maroon. She said, "You probably don't remember me,
but nine years ago you bought a new bicycle for my son, Jeremy." He did
remember her and she continued, "I was hoping to find you here to thank
you again. That bicycle has been handed down to three kids and they all
loved it." She told him how she had gone back to school to become a dental
hygienist and how Jeremy was currently taking pre-dental courses. The gift
of the bike changed their lives and they wanted to pattern theirs after
his who gave a kind gift. Jesus gives us the gift of peace to change our
lives. Our love back to Him is all the thanks He needs. To see us pattern
our lives after His Life is satisfaction for Him. The song states what
ought to be our response: "I'll live for Him who died for me. How happy
then my life shall be." That's where peace is to be found. In living a
life for Him Whom to know and serve is real peace. "No Jesus, No peace!
Know Jesus, Know Peace!" Peace comes from knowing Jesus, trusting Jesus,
following Jesus, obeying Jesus. Peace comes from living for Him. Come to
Him, come to His peace, come live for Him as we sing.
Chicken Soup For The Dental Soul, told by Michael Maroon, D.M.D., F.A.G.D.