“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you…”
75 years ago today, the UK celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe. The Allies had achieved victory over the evil of the Nazis and now there was peace.
About 7 years before that day, a British Prime minister called Neville Chamberlain, went to negotiate with Hitler, to allow Hitler to invade part of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain returned to home and declared that there was “peace in our time.” But it was a false peace. It was a peace secured by compromise with evil and, in the following year, the Second World War began.
There is false peace today. People tell you that you can have peace through meditation, or yoga, or through getting rich, or through following your desires and doing what you feel is right. But this peace doesn’t last. It is not true peace.
There is true peace, and it comes from Jesus. It comes from His victory against evil. He died on the cross and suffered in our place. On the cross, He defeated the devil, He defeated death, and He paid the price for all of our evil (our sin). He declared “It is finished!” The price is paid, victory is won. He has reconciled us to God.
So every believer has true peace with God (Romans 5:1). Not a false peace that comes and goes. Not a peace that depends on us, but a peace that comes from Him. Not a peace that depends on circumstances, but a peace that lasts forever because Jesus has saved us forever.
Whatever happens today, you have peace with God. Nothing can snatch you out of His hand. He will never forsake you. He is your Father. He is for you and not against you.
The best is yet to come 