Pastor’s Pen: Find a peace that the world cannot give

Recently I got my car washed, a not too frequent event.

The car wash at Glengormley had an army of able and willing young men and women available to wash my car. Of course I had to pay for their service - but that was ok for they did a super job, and besides, Jesus said that the labourer is worthy of his wages. Luke 10:7.

As I sat in my car waiting for it to be dried off, the sun was shining and on my radio Classic FM were playing a most beautiful tranquil piece of music, and in the quietness of my inner sanctum and in that moment I was at peace.

I looked at the people outside whose lives were full of noisy action, hustle and bustle. In their busyness I wondered: “If they looked at me would they know that I felt the perfect peace of Christ in my heart right at that moment?”

It was one of those beautiful moments when the noisiness of the world fades into a moment of tranquil peace.

Suddenly the door opened and the quietness of the moment was shattered by the noise, the cold, and the rush for those folk feverishly trying to get the job done. My quiet moment had passed, but it had been enough for me to be spiritually refreshed.

When Simeon, having seen the baby Jesus in the temple asked the Lord to let His servant depart in peace, I rather think that he had a settled peace within his soul, a peace which gave him an assurance, a certain knowledge of the certainly of the future glory of God that is to come for all who love Him because of Jesus, mankind’s redeemer had was here.

In Isaiah 9:6 we read: “And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father Prince of Peace.”

To know Jesus as your Saviour is to find a peace that the world cannot give, for Jesus said (John 14:27): “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Amen.