Where does peace come from?

I am thinking tonight where does our peace come from.  Jesus promised it.

I think of the woman, with children and her husband found someone younger and more beautiful.  I think of the husband who lost his wife too early to cancer and is left with little ones at home.  The father and mother that lost their son to suicide because of mental disorder.  Of the pastor who has preached for years and sees no growth in his congregation.  To the teenager who just wanted her dad to love her and found herself in one sex relationship after another.  To the addict searching for love and received one too many prescriptions from her doc, even ended up in jail.  To the one who has suffered so much their whole life they look for comfort in anything and anyone they can not being able to rid themselves of sin.  To the one whose physical suffering never ends day after day.

Where does their peace come from?  Is it possible.  Their lives may never be straightened out, as far as our standards, in this life.  Where is there hope?  

Our hope is in Jesus.  Our peace is in Jesus.  No matter how we are fooled, or have the illusion we look any better than these people in the above examples it is a lie.  We are all the same.  The only way to peace and joy is in the finished work of Christ on our behalf on the cross.  If we say we are without sin we are a liar.  It is only because Christ paid the penalty for our sin that we can come before the Father in a loving intimate relationship.  Apart from Him we can do nothing.

You may say but I am such a mess.  On the cross Christ took your sin and gave you His righteousness, His perfect life.  He said it is finished.  That means everything is complete right now.  He sees the end from the beginning.  You are perfect, beautiful, sinless because of His faithfulness and forgiveness.  Then we can come to Jesus to help us deal with our sin, our brokenness.  This is the only way a holy God could possibly look on you is through the perfect lens of Jesus blood and sacrifice on your behalf.

We have the illusion that some are better than others.  The truth is the others are closer to home that many of us because they know what a mess they are and their need for Jesus, their Savior.  The Spirit of God lives in each of us.  He is our seal to the Father.  Nothing, heights, depths, nor death, nor suffering, nor sin, nor spiritual powers can separate us from the love of your loving Father who sent His only perfect, adored, cherished Son to die a horrible death to come and get you to become one with the Father, Son and Spirit.  To share in their glory, delight and love throughout all eternity.

So rest your weary mind, rest your soul and body, Christ has you.  He will not let you go.  The Father has chosen you before time and given you to His Son forever.  Peace of Christ my friend, joy and rest.  Shalom.