by Doug Roush
Synopsis: Many seek a peace with God that is founded upon their feelings, rather than pursuing a peaceful and harmonious relationship with Him as stipulated in His written word.
God summarized the spiritual condition of Jerusalem in the days of the prophet Jerimiah, saying, "From the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, 'Peace, peace!' when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush…" (Jer. 6:13-15, NKJV). Further insight into their spiritual condition is given in chapter eight: "Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return" (v. 5). The words of chapter six, verses thirteen through fifteen, are repeated in chapter eight, verses ten through twelve. These sinful people could not be called from their sin and alienation from God to repentance and genuine peace with God while their spiritual leaders were giving them a false assurance of peace with God.
The spiritual condition of Jerusalem in the days of the prophet Jeremiah was not unique to that generation. No doubt, while Noah preached righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5), his contemporaries ridiculed and dismissed his warnings while assuring each other that they were just fine. Ahab, the king of Israel, surrounded himself with prophets who told him what he wanted to hear and refused to act on the council of truth (1 Kings 22). Through Peter, God warns, "...there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…" (2 Pet. 2:1-3). He continues, "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption…" (v. 19).
Did you notice the role covetousness plays in seeking and assuring a false sense of peace? People are "given to covetousness" (Jer. 6:13). People want to be at peace, spiritually; but on their own terms, not God's terms. They covet their way rather than God's revealed way to find peace with Him. Even the atheist wants to be at peace with their unbelief. Many "spiritually minded" people who want to be at peace with God often seek such peace based on their own feelings rather than on God's revelation of peace, harmony, and fellowship with Him, as stipulated in His written word. They want to feel they are acceptable to God and they want their feelings reassured by others, rather than verified by God's word. So, rather than seeking to know the law of the Lord, they seek teachers who will speak unto them "smooth things" (Isa. 30:10). False teachers, coveting popularity, are eager to tell people what they want to hear, seemingly with little regard for what God tells us in His word. They often deceive, while they, themselves, are deceived (2 Tim. 3:13). Instead of searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) and rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), they trust in ways that seem right to themselves (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). They may be sincerely wrong, but they are still wrong and separated from God. Although they have convinced themselves that they are "spiritually minded," because they believe in God, they covet their own will rather than God's will, as it is revealed in His word, the Bible.
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace..." (John 16:33). The peace that is in Jesus comes through trusting and obeying His word. Since the beginning, ultimate peace comes from trusting and obeying God. Adam and Eve were at peace with God as long as they obeyed God, but when they sinned against God, they realized they were no longer at peace with Him.
Being a "tiller of the ground" perhaps Cain was sincere and seeking peace with God when he offered his sacrifice of "the fruit of the ground." Yet, unlike Abel's sacrifice, Cain's sacrifice was not "of faith" (Heb. 11:4)—not being in agreement with what he had heard from God (Rom. 10:17). Although God continued to speak to Cain, encouraging him to repent and do the right thing, Cain continued to covet his own opinion as to what God should accept in worship. Cain did not hear from God what he wanted to hear, so he went to his brother. Apparently, Abel told Cain the same thing God had told him, and encouraged him to be at peace with God by humbly doing what God had said. Cain had been angry with God for not accepting his sacrifice; afterward, he became angry with his brother, and killed him.
Sadly, the story of Cain is repeated in every generation. People covet their own way rather than the revealed way of God. Rather than humbly keeping His commandments, they become angry with God and His word, and with those who encourage them to repent and obey God.
Jesus is "the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). Through His sacrifice, He provided the way to peace with God. It is a way we are expected to emulate. To know peace with God, we must sacrifice our sinful desires and practices so that we may nurture our desire for the knowledge of righteousness and be active in the practice of it. To know peace and unity with God, we must be sanctified through knowing and practicing God's word of truth (John 17:17, 21).
1 John 3:4 states, "sin is lawlessness" (NKJV). In other words, whatever is outside the "law of God" is sin. Some of these acts of lawlessness are identified specifically; others are stated in principle. There is one common denominator to sin: sin is self-serving. Consider James 1:14-16, which says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." When we allow "the majority" or "some authority" to "change the labels" so that our sin will be made more palatable to our conscience, we are allowing ourselves to be deceived. Isaiah 5:20 warns, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" There can be no peace with God if we are committed to practicing that which is outside the law of God.
2 John 9-11 says it this way: "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." As in the days of Jeremiah, there continues to be those who give false assurance of fellowship and peace with God while transgressing the doctrine of Christ and teaching and practicing the doctrines of men (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:9).
Like Adam and Eve, the personal absence of peace with God is the result of knowing we have disobeyed God. God's message of peace reproves our sin, corrects us, and instructs us in righteousness that we may be complete, thoroughly furnished to every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and thereby be at peace with God. Only when we make peace with God on His terms, can we truly make peace with ourselves and others. Absence of inward conflict is conducive to being productive in the practice of righteousness.
The way of peace for all areas of life has been revealed by God's Son. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). As noted earlier, He is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). He is the Word of God, made flesh (John 1:14).
The gospel of Christ is the word which God sent… preaching peace by Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36). The word of peace, the gospel of Christ, continues to be preached. It is recorded in the New Testament. It is to be demonstrated in the lives of those who follow the "Prince of Peace." Those who trust and obey Him are dedicated to living to the praise of His glory. They know they are at peace with God. Even in times of distress and tribulation, they come to know the peace that passes understanding, knowing they are at peace with God and that He will provide those things they need (Phil. 4:7; Matt. 6:33). Do you know that peace?
Author Bio: Doug and his wife, Debbie, have worked with the Southside church of Christ in Bowling Green, KY for the past twelve years. The church website is thesouthsidechurchofchrist.com. He can be reached at dougroush@bellsouth.net.
