Peace with and Peace from God

Willard Beesley

 

Many of us have never been able to see, or to fully experience these two different aspects of PEACE:

1. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have

peace WITH God through our Lord Jesus Christ".

Romans 5:1.

 

2. "Grace to you and peace FROM God our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ". Ephesians 1:2.

 

When I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior and was forgiven of my sin, I received "PEACE WITH GOD". For the first time in my life, everything was different, I felt clean on the inside. I was at peace with God and with my self.

 

I began to be appreciative of the people around me. Now, I could begin to reach out and touch other lives and receive from them. A whole new life was laid out before me, it was beautiful and precious to me.

 

But, receiving "Peace with God" was not meant to be the end of my experience, instead it was just the beginning. Deep inside, I felt that something was still lacking, and that I needed something more. After sharing this with many other Christians, I realized that many of us have this same inner feeling of need.

 

In earnest, I began to seek the Lord and to inquire of Him concerning this need that I felt. I read the Word faithfully every day and meditated on it. I cried and repented, often for what I do not know, it sounded good, so I did it. After all this, I still was not satisfied. There was a struggle, deep within me, I had no lasting inner peace.

 

Different brethren told me what I needed to do. They said that I needed to be baptized in water, which I did. I received a measure of peace, yet I did not receive the deep inner peace that I longed for.

 

Then, they instructed me that I needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Gladly and earnestly, I asked the Lord that I might be filled with His Holy Spirit. It was such a blessed experience. It caused me to be made aware of so many things that I could not fully understand or grasp before. Words could not express the Joy of the Lord now coming into me in a new way.

 

Yet, after a while there was still that "something" that was missing in my life. I was encouraged to ask the Lord for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. With expectation, I sought the Lord, and because of His great Love, He bestowed gift ministries in my life. I willingly did all that I was asked to do, yet no one seemed to have the full answer for me. All were sincere in their counsel and guidance concerning this inner need, for which I could find no answer.

 

Then, I began to minister for the Lord, with my eyes and heart fixed on Him. Soon, I was attacked from behind and knocked down. For what, I did not know or understand. After a while, I got up and looked around. There was no one there, so I started again. All of a sudden I was slammed down from my blind side. The hurts were very bad. Should I get up and try again? As I gained courage and strength from the Lord, I went on with renewed fervor, more determined than ever before to come out the victor.

 

I held my head high and went on. Throughout all these encounters, I kept asking the Lord, "Why? and other questions that come up at times like these. There seemed to be no answer, but I had gone this far, so I could not give up or quit.

 

The goal now seemed so close to me. All began to go well, almost to the point of victory. I was beginning to come into a new place in the Lord, when just as it was almost in my hands, I was robbed of it all. The blessings, victories, joys and happiness that should have been mine.

 

For so long, this has been the struggle of many of us, and we do not know what to do. This is why so many are discouraged and cast down. The promises seemed so very real and were within our grasp, then they were robbed from us.

 

Though I could not seem to understand this then, as I came through all these processings, I can now say with the Psalmist of old, (Psalm 40:1) "I waited patiently for the Lord", and He did not let me down.

 

One night, as I was quietly waiting before the Lord, I began to be made aware that there was a door ajar. I was directed of the Holy Spirit to enter through it. As I did, I became very aware of the manifest presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. I began to understand and to experience what "PEACE FROM GOD" is. There is no human tongue that could describe this beautiful peace that I received at this time.

 

All that was before; turmoil, distractions, or anything that could cause unrest, now had no power over me. I had received "PEACE FROM GOD". It seemed that I was partaking of the tree of life. There was no death of any kind, no more interference at all. It was a total and complete Peace and Rest that had entered into my very being.

 

No longer did the Lord seem to be distant or unapproachable. I was a part of Him and He was a part of me. This opened up to me such new depths and heights in God, that I could not fully comprehend it all.

 

This is the experience that the Lord desires for each one of us to come into. The dealings and processings that we go through, are to cause us to come into the place where we can fully receive this "PEACE FROM GOD".

 

I have come into this experience. But, at times there has been a difficulty in being able to maintain it. Without a daily experience of this peace from God imparted into our lives, we would be most miserable and at times intolerable to get along with. I am sure that there will be a time when we will be able to continually abide in this experience.

 

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". John 14:27. The cry of my entire being is to come into this place of His Peace and to abide there. What a joyful day this will be for all of us.

 

This will be accomplished, no matter what happens or takes place. For, He is faithful that promised. Israel did not come into the promised land for a long time. The processings had to come first, in order to remove the things which hindered the blessing that the Lord had purposed for them.

 

I rejoice that I am a part of the struggle. But, I am also a part of the triumphant victory that was won at Calvary. This experience of "PEACE FROM GOD" is ours. Let us press on to the prize and to the goal that is set before us. We will not be denied that which is rightfully ours in Christ: His peace reigning in our Lives.

 

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. "And the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:7.