"At Peace With Our Heavenly Father" — another look at
God's successful but very costly resolution of the crisis in His family.
We began these Conversations by remembering that there once was peace throughout the
universe. And there was peace because all the members of God's vast family trusted each
other, all of them trusted their Heavenly Father, and He in turn could safely trust in
them. But we have also talked about the war that began up in Heaven, the conflict of
distrust, the false charges of the adversary, and God's patient demonstration of the
truth. The conflict was not over mere obedience to the rules but over the character and
government of God himself. Victory for God is not the destruction of His enemies. This He
could have accomplished by the merest command or manifestation of almighty power. But
God's enemies are His own beloved but misbehaving children. There is no victory for God
until what went wrong has been set right, till peace has been eternally secured — not
a false peace based on force or fear but real peace based on freely given love and trust.
There could be no peace if God were as Satan has made Him out to be — arbitrary,
vengeful, unforgiving and severe. Mere pardon and adjustment of one's legal standing would
not produce peace between sinners and this kind of God. Yet there are explanations of
salvation that seem based on the assumption that Satan's accusations are the truth.
"God is arbitrary," some will say, "but as Sovereign He has the right to
be." "God takes vengeance, but for Him we should call it justice." Few
would suggest that God is unforgiving and severe, but many imply the same by urging the
necessity of a Friend up there to plead with God to forgive and heal.
Paul told early Christians that since we have been won back to trust and so set right
with God we should go on enjoying the peace we have with God through Jesus Christ. (Romans
5:1) Jesus came to bring peace with God, not by paying some legal penalty so God would not
have to kill us after all. He brought peace by showing us the truth about our God, that
there is no need to be afraid. God will indeed give up those who refuse to trust and
listen and let Him heal. But God will not torture to death His dying children. Jesus
brought peace, not so much by assuring us that He would be our Friend in court but by
showing that there is no need for Him to plead with God in our behalf, for the Father is
just as much our Friend.
Truly the only way to set and keep us right was for Jesus to come and demonstrate the
truth about the Father. And so, as one of God's best friends has said, "The whole
purpose of Christ's mission on this earth was to set men right by revealing the truth
about God's character." This is the truth that sets us free. This
is the truth that brings everlasting peace. But do we like it? Do we want it? Like God,
would we give up anything to have such peace?
Bible passages included:
Romans 5:1. "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (RSV)
"Let us have peace." (Rheims, 1582)
"Let us enjoy the peace we have." (Moffatt)
"Let us continue to enjoy the peace we have." (Montgomery)
1 Kings 9:3, 4. "The Lord said to him (Solomon)...'If you walk
before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did...'" (NIV)
Colossians 1:20. "Through him God chose to reconcile the whole
universe to himself, making peace through the shedding of his blood upon the cross."
(NEB)
Matthew 10:34-36. "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I
came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law
against their mothers-in-law; a man's worst enemies will be the members of his own
family." (GNB)
John 1:11. "He came to his home, and his own family did not
welcome him." (Goodspeed)
1 Peter 4:12-14. "Do not be surprised at the painful test you are
suffering... Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings... Happy are you if
you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit,
the Spirit of God, is resting on you." (GNB)
Galatians 5:22. "The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest
of love, joy, peace..." (Weymouth)
John 14:25, 26. "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit...will remind you
of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you... Do not
let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV)
John 16:33; 17:1, 3, 4. "'I have told you all this so that you
may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave; I have conquered
the world.' ... 'Father...eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God... I have
glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do.'" (Jerusalem)
Romans 7:23, 24. "I see a different law at work in my body —
a law that fights against the law which my mind approves of... It makes me a prisoner...
What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me?" (GNB)
Romans 8:31, 38, 39. "If God is for us, who can be against us?...
I am certain that...neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers...will ever be able
to separate us from the love of God." (GNB)
Hebrews 12:11. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time... Later
on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace." (NIV)
Romans 5:3, 4. "We can be full of joy here and now even in our
trials and troubles.. These very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will
develop a mature character..." (Phillips)
Isaiah 26:3, 4. "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep
their purpose firm and put their trust in you." (GNB)
Hebrews 4:2. "For we have heard the Good News, just as they did.
They heard the message, but it did them no good, because when they heard it, they did not
accept it with faith." (GNB)
©1984 Graham Maxwell
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