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W. George Cooper and Warren Cornell, at a Methodist camp meeting near West Bend, Wisconsin in 1889, wrote these words together:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
But is there true peace in the world today, beloved? Certainly not among governments and nations! So what kind of peace was the focus of Cornell and Cooper's words? And even more important, what kind of peace was Jesus promising to His disciples as He prepared them for the work that He had for them to do after He had departed from them?
Jesus knew that the work to which He was sending them would require of them a sense of inward peace that they themselves would not be able to produce. As He said to them - "in the world you shall have tribulation" - the Greek word thlipsis referring to things that press in upon us, that put us in a "bench vise" of circumstances. He knew full well that what faced them in their kingdom-building work would sorely try them and test them beyond the limits of mere human determination and will-power.
So He promised them His own divine peace, a peace that operates best in the face of the trials and turmoil of this life. This peace would become their legacy, just as it is our own legacy today as those whose "watch" it is in the vineyard of service unto Jesus Christ. Nor would His peace be some sort of ethereal or abstract concept which would "trick" the mind into thinking that all is well when in reality it is not. He confirmed the reality of His peace by declaring to them, "I have overcome the world." Standing there that day in the very shadow of Golgotha, Jesus of Nazareth claimed victory over the world! Satan would not succeed in keeping Him from the cross, nor in keeping Him in the tomb. He would rise victoriously over sin, death, and hell and reign supremely as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And that reality would be the source of their everlasting peace.
What kind of mountain are you facing today, beloved? Whatever it is, the peace of Jesus Christ has the power to carry you through and beyond your trial to the accomplished purpose for which He allowed it to come into your life in the first place. And in facing every such challenge as you stand your watch in the vineyard, recall with me the promise of the Apostle John to the believers of His day:
Jesus knew that the work to which He was sending them would require of them a sense of inward peace that they themselves would not be able to produce. As He said to them - "in the world you shall have tribulation" - the Greek word thlipsis referring to things that press in upon us, that put us in a "bench vise" of circumstances. He knew full well that what faced them in their kingdom-building work would sorely try them and test them beyond the limits of mere human determination and will-power.
So He promised them His own divine peace, a peace that operates best in the face of the trials and turmoil of this life. This peace would become their legacy, just as it is our own legacy today as those whose "watch" it is in the vineyard of service unto Jesus Christ. Nor would His peace be some sort of ethereal or abstract concept which would "trick" the mind into thinking that all is well when in reality it is not. He confirmed the reality of His peace by declaring to them, "I have overcome the world." Standing there that day in the very shadow of Golgotha, Jesus of Nazareth claimed victory over the world! Satan would not succeed in keeping Him from the cross, nor in keeping Him in the tomb. He would rise victoriously over sin, death, and hell and reign supremely as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And that reality would be the source of their everlasting peace.
What kind of mountain are you facing today, beloved? Whatever it is, the peace of Jesus Christ has the power to carry you through and beyond your trial to the accomplished purpose for which He allowed it to come into your life in the first place. And in facing every such challenge as you stand your watch in the vineyard, recall with me the promise of the Apostle John to the believers of His day:
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4)
In the darkest moment of his life, having lost fortune, home, and all four of his daughters in a tragic accident at sea, Horatio Spafford was inspired by God's peace to write these words that have comforted and uplifted millions of God's people for many years:
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll -
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
'It is well, it is well with my soul.'
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control -
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend!
Even so, it is well with my soul!
When sorrows like sea billows roll -
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
'It is well, it is well with my soul.'
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control -
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend!
Even so, it is well with my soul!
Peace, peace, wonderful peace! And why not? After all, He is the Prince of Peace! As we light the Advent candle of Peace this Christmas season, remember the price that was paid for us to have His own eternal peace!
Ron
Ron
