Peace, Peace, Peace

James H. Cagle
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The Bible (KJV) says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26: 3).

Heaven is a place of perfect rest and peace because God rules there and because the saints who live there no longer have their sinful nature and so are incapable of committing sin and being rebellious, unruly, and displeasing to God. Every being there has their personality and is able to express their feelings and thought and opinion, but because holiness rules in the hearts of everyone, there is no will or inclination to disobey God and sin and disrupt the peace of Heaven.

In Hell there is no peace because the wicked rejected Jesus Christ Who is the Prince of Peace (Is. 57: 20-21).

According to the Bible (KJV) we can know and enjoy the peace that comes from God, now in this wicked, sin-curse, Christ-rejecting world, amidst all the chaos, violence, civil unrest, political wrangling, and economic uncertainty.

God’s peace is given to us conditionally. When nations cease their fighting, they draw up the conditions for peace. Even so we can enjoy God’s peace when we meet the conditions.

The first condition for peace is to cease being the enemy of God (Rom. 5: 10) and instead put our faith and trust in Him and know the salvation, forgiveness, redemption and peace that come through Jesus Christ (Acts 10: 36; Rom. 5: 1; Eph. 2: 14, 15). Peace is the fruit, the result of our regeneration, renewal, restoration and reconciliation with God.

Another condition for peace is trust in God amid all the worlds’ unrest. Instead of focusing on all the unrest we focus on God and trust Him fully and completely (Is. 26: 3). While trouble rules the world, peace can rule in our hearts.

Still another condition for peace is such a love for the Word of God that we read and meditate in it and come to where we do trust God, and then nothing will “offend” us, – “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Ps. 119: 165). When we love the Word of God, we will obey it and walk in the way of peace without stumbling.

Jesus said, “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” (Jn. 14: 27). Since Jesus is God, then the peace He gives is the peace of God. When His peace rules in our hearts, we will not be troubled or afraid when trouble and fear are on every side. Our confidence will be in God’s power and control.

God’s peace is not just a feeling of tranquility and safety, but a sense of wholeness, completeness, and well-being, amidst a crowd that is experiences none of those. (Cf. Ps. 3: 1-6, 56: 3, 11; Ps. 91)

David spoke in Psalm 144: 11-15, of how happy and peaceful a nation could be, how prosperous and successful it could be when it made God their Lord – “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 144: 15).

If we do not have God’s peace, it’s because we have not met the conditions for His peace.

Thank God for His peace. How does one live without it?

Peace, Peace, Peace

There is a peace that we can know,
That comes from God above.
It comes amidst all toil and strife,
It comes because of God’s great love.

Heaven’s a place of perfect rest,
And peace is there for sin is gone.
For holiness rules in ev’ry heart,
And disobedience is unknown.

The wicked do not know God’s peace,
For they rejected Christ’ sin offering,
The wicked in Hell know it neither,
All they know is fear and suffering.

God’s peace is conditional,
And is known through Jesus Christ alone.
For Jesus Christ is our peace,
And for our peace He did atone.

We cannot come any other way,
To make our peace with God,
For Jesus Christ is the only way,
Into this peace that’s offered by God.

Then if we would know God’s peace,
Amidst the trouble that’s all about,
We must set our mind on the Lord,
And we’ll be free from fear and doubt.

Then as we feed upon God’s Word,
Our faith and trust will grow,
For as He kept the saints of old,
He’ll keep us to amidst sins woe.

Jesus left us with His peace,
And it is therefore peace Divine.
We shouldn’t be troubled or afraid,
When we His children the world maligns.

“Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above,
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.”
James H. Cagle

I Love America’s Flag

I love America’s flag.
Her colors, red, white and blue.
She’s the symbol of our freedom,
Of what’s so precious to me and you.

I love America’s flag.
Dear Ole Glory waving high.
May her stars and stripes forever,
Be seen flying in our sky.

I love America’s flag.
See her waving through our land.
For here we salute and honor her,
On the field and in the grandstand.

I love America’s flag.
Her rising, waving at first light,
High atop her guarding post,
Then folded away at ev’ning light.

I love America’s flag.
She stands for freedom and liberty.
May we all love and respect her,
And give her that due dignity.

I love America’s flag.
Many fought and bled for her.
And for all that she stands for,
Many gave all and died for her.

I love America’s flag.
Her colors so brave and proud.
We’ve flown her on the battlefield,
And paraded her through the crowd.

I love America’s flag.
And each patriot loves her to.
She stands for all that we hold dear,
So forever to our flag be true.

I love America’s flag.
From our first struggle she was born.
Ev’ry stripe and star was stitched,
To throw off tyranny with scorn.

I love America’s flag.
She frowns on our disunity.
As one we put our trust in God,
And live to make all men free.

I love America’s flag.
I see her waving in the sky.
May God bless America,
And keep our flag waving high.
James H. Cagle

One Comment on “Peace, Peace, Peace”

  1. A refreshing message of hope that comes from trusting our lord in an atmosphere of sheer depression and dismay with no hope on the horizon.

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