“ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth , give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled , neither let it be afraid .”–John 14:27
I read the story of two artist who set out to each paint a picture of peace. One man painted the picture of a placid lake, tucked among the hills where the stormy winds couldn’t disturb it. A touching scene that warms the heart.
The other painted a stormy sea with raging waves, and wrecks scattered along the shore. Rising up out of the sea was a tiny rocky island, and high upon the cliff there was a small cleft in the rock where a dove was sitting calmly on the nest she had made. Observers all agree that this latter picture was a better depiction of peace. It was the work of a thoughtful and wise artist.
However, as great as that picture was, it isn’t the best picture of peace. The best picture is that of Christ Himself. From the time He was born, even before, He knew exactly what would happen. From the cradle to the grave, He lived in the shadow of the cross. He was hated and despised by sinful men, yet He never worried, wavered, or wandered off the course appointed Him. He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem and, with total devotion, He pressed on. And never, not even one time, do we ever hear a word of consternation, care, or complaint. He possessed a deep settled peace beyond anything the world had ever witnessed. He was the perfect picture of peace.
It was in the light of His glorious example that He promised, “–my peace I give unto you”(John 14:27). Amazing indeed! He who is the perfect picture of peace promised to provide His peace to His people. As someone said: “No Christ, no peace; Know Christ, know peace”. So how is it with you dear friend? In Christ, who is our peace, we can have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” and it “shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). In Him, that peace which is pictured perfectly becomes your permanent possession.
