Rest in Peace

What does it take to be at peace with God?

There could be no peace without a Peacemaker. Before we loved him, the Lord loved us. From God's perspective peace meant going a million times beyond the extra mile. We could never be at peace with God if not for his grace to grant us blessings we can't earn and forgiveness we don't deserve. From God's side peace required the shame and misery of the cross where Christ bore our sins. "He himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).

Jesus fulfilled the prophet's predictions about the coming Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Word became flesh and "to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Without faith in the Lord, we will never be at peace. Since God has already done the hard part and paved the way for us to be reconciled with him, what does he require of us in response?

With childlike trust we must place our forever future into the strong hands of Jesus, confessing him as Savior and Lord (Matthew 10:32, 33; 28:18-20; Romans 10:9-13).

Peter told a crowd of thousands in Jerusalem that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Their hearts breaking with godly sorrow, his listeners implored, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:36, 37).

Peter replied, "Repent." Recognize your sin for what it is: a shipwreck only God can repair. Exchange the folly of a self-directed life for the peace and purpose of a God-directed life. "And be baptized" (v. 38), Peter continued—a beautiful response to God's grace in which a repentant believer is buried with Christ and raised with him "through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:1-4). Why submit to this simple act of faith? "So that your sins may be forgiven," said Peter. "And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

A government official from Ethiopia struggled to understand the Scriptures. Joining the seeker in his chariot, Philip "told him the good news about Jesus" as they traveled along and baptized him in water beside the road. The Ethiopian "went on his way rejoicing," at peace with God (Acts 8:39). A businesswoman who sold purple cloth went to a riverside prayer meeting where she heard Paul preach about Jesus. Lydia and her household believed and were baptized. So did a prison warden and his family after hearing Paul say, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household" (Acts 16:13-15, 29-34).

Have you rejected sin as your master and placed your trust in Jesus Christ? Have you accepted his priceless gift of grace and been buried with him in baptism as "the pledge of a good conscience toward God" (1 Peter 3:21)? Even with all of your frustrations and failures, can you see through the fog that the overall direction of your life is marked by faith in the unfailing promises of God? Then rest in peace! "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (Romans 5:1, 2).

Peace comes not when we have every problem solved, every relationship neatly in place, every question completely answered. Peace comes when we can say with confidence, "Blessed assurance—Jesus is mine!"