The Eternal Tranquilizer

[Albert Finch]

Colossians 3:15 - 'Let the peace of God rule in your heart...'

A very fundamental way God speaks to individual believers is through His peace. Too often we take the peace of God for granted. God's peace is that eternal tranquilizer that governs our being.

Romans 5:1 -- 'Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Ephesians 2:13,14 -- 'But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us.'

There is a difference between having:

1. The peace of God and,

2. Having peace with God

Any born-again believer who loves God and desires to serve Him has peace WITH God. This is simply part of the blood covenant. His peace is part of the package.

But a common way God speaks to the believer is through the peace OF God, or lack thereof, concerning specific situations:

Colossians 3:15 (Amp) -- 'And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as an umpire continually) in your hearts -- deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds -- (in that peaceful state) to which (as members of Christ's one body you were called (to live). And be thankful -- appreciative, giving praise to God always.

'

The Holy Spirit within is that Heavenly Umpire who continaully declares peace -- or lack of peace.

When a Christian may express concerning a decision, 'I just don't have peace about it.' He is not saying he does not have peace WITH God, but that he lacks the peace OF God concerning the specific decision he is trying to make. At other times, when a decision has to be made, the Holy Spirit within may give a tremendous inundation of peace that gives assurance to the believer. This overwhelming peace is indicatation that the decision is in the will of God.

When we walk with God and begin to turn the wrong way, we may immediately sence something lacking. We know His presence is mysteriously missing. We should be sensitive to that lack of peace.

As we walk in the Spirit, we should take note when His Presence is missing and turn around. Then ask why. He will reveal the reason.

The peace OF God, or the absence of His peace is the voice of the Lord. It is clearly one way He communicates to every child of God.