“Trying to Outlive Mistakes by David Hehner”

Sunday, May 03, 2015

What does it mean to have peace?  Most people think about peace in the physical sense.  The first thing I think about when it comes to the idea of peace is not being at war.  Without peace there are casualties, people get hurt and even die.  Only maniacs and lunatics want this.  Peace helps to preserve our physical lives.  So what about spiritual peace? 

Just as physical peace preserves our physical lives, having spiritual peace preserves our eternal lives. Jesus came into the world to bring spiritual peace to anyone who would obey His teachings.  This was predicted in Isaiah 9:6.  This verse says, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Having spiritual peace is knowing I’m fighting for God and not against Him.

Spiritual peace doesn’t mean we’re free of any and all conflicts. We are no longer fighting against God, but we are at war with the sin in the world.  Everywhere we turn we encounter different temptations to go against what Jesus came to this earth to teach us.  When I let my guard down, I'm robbed of my peace with God. I get wrapped up in everyday life. My thoughts aren't focused or worse yet, my thoughts are impure. I lose sight of what God has set before me.  We all need to be reminded of spiritual things every day in study, in meditation, in prayer and in fellowship with God’s people.

I remember when I didn’t have spiritual peace.  I was already a Christian but I was letting my friends influence me in ways that were against God’s teachings.  I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I still did it.  I was seeking acceptance from my friends at the time.  I remember literally thinking “I hope I don’t die tonight.”  It was a scary feeling.  I knew that I wouldn’t get to live with God in Heaven.  I have since made things right with God.  But how many people go through every day hoping they outlive their mistakes and have just enough time to seek forgiveness? That is torturous. It’s the exact opposite of the peace God wants us to have in our lives.

It is a much better feeling knowing I have spiritual peace than when I knew I didn’t.  The spiritual peace that we as Christians have, allows us to get through many trials other people struggle with.  We know that this world is temporary and that we are looking to the next life.  Hebrews 13:14 tells us, “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come”.  If we truly have spiritual peace, people will see that we endure more patiently the trials that come our way. 

Ultimately, the only way to achieve spiritual peace is to learn what God wants and to do it.  He is patient and He doesn’t want anyone to be lost.  2 Peter 3:9 reads, “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”.  We also read in Mark 16:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but we who has disbelieved shall be condemned”.  How about you?  Do you have spiritual peace?  Maybe you’re not sure.  Let us help you get to the point in your life where you can achieve spiritual peace.

Additional Resources
Trying to Outlive Mistakes - Bible Study Guide 
Therefore - Sermon by Curtis Pope 
Till the Storm Passes By - Hymn from Annual Singing with Tim Stevens

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A Youthful Perspective

Wouldn’t You Rather Have Peace

By Jonathan Holden

Peace.  The word brings thoughts of being safe at home, nothing to worry about.  Not worried about what the next day will bring.  But there are two kinds of peace: Physical, which we all know and crave for in this world and what we usually think of when we think of peace, but there is also spiritual peace, peace with God, our Creator. Peace knowing that if we die, and we lived according to His will, we are granted eternal rest in His bosom.  John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

While both kinds of peace are important, wouldn’t you rather have spiritual peace? Physical peace may protect our earthly bodies, but these bodies are not eternal like our soul is.  Having spiritual peace with God guarantees that our souls will not be lost away from our Father.  Which would you rather have?

I myself have struggled with having peace, spiritual and physical. Being the worrywart I am, I constantly stress over the little things, be it school, friends, or just time constraints, when I should just give all of my problems to God. Giving our problems to God not only shows we trust Him, but it prevents us from stressing on the things that we shouldn’t. Trust in God and seek his commandments.

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