As Paul concluded his second epistle to the Thessalonian church, he, as always, stated his blessing of hope upon the brethren and said: “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Jesus Christ alone can impart genuine peace unto all who would submit to His divine will. Earlier Paul had concluded how that God is not “the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Jesus is referred to in scripture both as “our peace” (Ephesians 2:14) and the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Thus it seems that it is only proper that He be the means of “peace by all means.” But specifically, by what means is peace offered through Christ?
One means of peace available in Christ is public peace. Contained in the scriptures are numerous expectations as to how we, as neighbors, are to interact with each other. The true child of God actively pursues these avenues of peace with their fellow man. They will abide by the inspired direction of Paul in Romans 12:9-21 and love, encourage, help, sympathize, etc., with the general desire to live peaceably with all men (vs. 18). True Christians will be those who live such a life as to be without reproach among all men. They will be embodiments of “second mile Christianity” (Matthew 5:38-42), recognizing their responsibility as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Why? Because “a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15). Ultimately, the true child of God is one, not who seeks conflict and division, but rather one who seeks peace (1 Peter 3:11). The means that every decision made in life is made with the driving desire to establish and maintain peace. It means every word spoken is spoken in peace. It means every deed that is done is done in peace. And if we truly submit to the expectations of Jesus Christ, we will enjoy a degree of public peace.
Another means of peace made possible through Jesus Christ is personal peace. How marvelous the opportunity to lay down to sleep at night with our head clear of guilt and our heart full of hope! Paul thanked God whom he says he served with “pure conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3). How was this possible? Because “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:17-18). As we submit our lives to the wisdom of God, we enjoy the inner peace that comes with purity of life. But our personal peace is not possible until we submit to that first act of conscience cleansing, obedience to the gospel (1 Peter 3:21). Once, though, our lives reflect the will of Almighty God, through Jesus Christ, we find a measure of personal peace available no place else.
A third means of peace present in Christ is perpetual peace. “O the depth and the riches of God’s saving grace flowing down from the cross for me! There the debt for my sins by the Savior was paid in His suffering on Calvary!” The peace Christians have through Jesus is not limited to merely a social or inner peace in this life, but it is one that spans the ages of eternity. Paul reminded the Ephesians that at one time they were “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). But, as Christians, he let them know that to the contrary “now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (vs. 13). Why? “For he is our peace” (vs. 14). Yes, in Christ exists the glories of eternal peace, that which shall never cease to be. But a perpetual peace is found only through the avenue of Jesus.
So much conflict exists and prevails in all quarters of life. From work, to the home, to social life, and even in the church, conflict is far too prevalent. Does it not cause you to thirst deeply for true and abiding peace? Our only hope is to turn to the Lord of peace who can “give you peace always by all means.”