Achieve lasting peace through God

To the Editor:

Peace in the world is a condition of order and harmony with the absence of war or conflict with no guarantee of continuance. Sometimes it is just having a time of quietness with no interruption but again this will come to an end.

Peace with God is knowing we have been reconciled by the death of Chirst and saved by his life (Rom. 5:10). Peace with God is knowing he will be with us and never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5) and is continuing peace in his plan he has for those who love him. A plan we cannot fully understand but is brought about by him for his glory and our good (Rom. 8:28; 1Cor. 2:9).

Having peace with God we also have the peace of God within us. As we live for him we understand there are things which we cannot fully comprehend but can be peacefully experienced by those who are in Christ (Eph. 3:18:19). We know God will keep our heart and mind through Christ to keep us from turning from him to the wicked thoughts and desires of the world (Phil. 4:7). We have God’s peace in us because peace is part of the fruit of the holy spirit who dwells within us (Gal. 5:22). We have the peace of God because it has been given to us by Jesus our Lord (John 14:27). As we hearken unto God’s commandments we have peace flowing in us like a river and righteousness washing over us as the waves of the sea (Isa. 48:8) and God will keep those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed upon him, because they trust in him (Isa. 26:3).

If we are of God we have a lasting peace but if we are of the world we have sometimes peace with tribulations.

Jim Batt

Mexico, Pa.