If I were to poll a vast majority of people from differing backgrounds, ages, race, and gender and ask the question, what do you want most out of life, the answer would almost unanimously be the same across all groups, to be happy, and to live in peace. It seems that being happy is a by-product of living a peaceful life. So, it would seem the key to a good life would be found in living a life of peace. There is much to be said for the person who has mastered the ability to remain peaceful in the face of opposition, or given all the chaos that takes place in our everyday lives. I think the answer to finding peace is to understand what keeps us from experiencing peace in our lives.
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
John 14:27 (NASB)
True peace is a result of a life that is no longer in rebellion to the law of God, but is given over to obedience to Christ. In this statement Jesus mentions a couple of things...(1) That He would be the one to give you peace; A person who has trusted Christ is not shaken by world events, political changes, their current circumstances, or even the realization of death. They have a peace that comes from knowing that God is sovereignly controlling all the events in life down to the smallest detail. (2) The peace that Christ gives is not temporary or conditioned; Worldly peace is both temporal, and conditioned. What I mean is the best this world can do is make you feel comfortable for a moment, your job is going good, your bills are paid, your marriage is the best it has ever been, and then all of the sudden you lose your job. This will result in no income, falling behind on your bills, and in most instances these two things cause a strain on your marriage. If all you have to find peace in are the things of this life as soon as this life throws a few curves, you have nothing to sustain your peace. What I am saying is you are defined by the things of this world, but for the person who trusts Christ they are defined by their faith in His ability to sustain them, not their ability to sustain themselves. If Jesus makes this statement he is ultimately saying I will supply your peace, and with Me their is no changing, no volatility, no need to worry, because I am in control. How do we have peace in the midst of chaos? We trust Christ! We trust that not one thing will take place in our lives that He has not already predetermined, foreseen, and made provision for, even the chaos that will most certainly come along...