You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 NIVUK
There are several cities in this world that are built at, or even below, sea level: Amsterdam, Venice and New Orleans being three famous examples. But how many of you know about the problems faced by the city of Jakarta in Indonesia? You see, this city is built on soft, silty soil that simply cannot bear the weight of modern buildings. As a result, the entire city is slowly sinking. The Indonesian government is actually considering moving their capital city elsewhere to avoid the awful consequences of losing it to the sea. A whole mega-city gradually disappearing!
During a time of intense persecution, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians:
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NIVUK
Many of us do not have to wait for the Final Judgement at the end of the world. The very foundations our lives are being tested now. The process is far from easy. In fact, it is incredibly painful. The question is: what are we really made of?
These verses in Isaiah were not written from a theological ivory tower. No, they were written in the wretched pain of an impending double exile, of both Israel and Judah. They were written in a time of international turmoil. They speak of a means of emerging from this turmoil with our health intact, at every level. They speak of the means of obtaining Divine Peace - perfect peace, peace squared - that brings us safety, serenity, strength and security - all things that our world desperately needs. We have them in Christ. We can obtain them easily, if only we set aside our fevered imaginations and set our trust completely in Him.
Our world is watching. It is terrified. It desperately needs what we have in Christ. The question is: when they look at us, what do they see? They do not need anxiety, conspiracy theories or worry. They already have that and it isn't working for them. They need peace: peace in God, perfect peace, peace squared. We can have it and there is more than enough to go round. It's time we shared it with those who really need it. But to do that, we need to have it for ourselves.
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