"Scene Of Serenity"

"Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love" (II John 1:3).

Grace is God giving to us what the Lord Jesus Christ deserves. "We are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Mercy is God having given to the Lord Jesus what we deserve. "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Peace, peace between God and ourselves, is the blessed result. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:1).

"God hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

Our Heavenly Father desires our hearts to be a tranquil scene of serenity. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts." He has provided a salvation that makes such blessedness possible in a world wherein the tranquil and the serene are continually sought for, but rarely obtained. Only the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus can provide peace because humanity's problem is very different than most people consider. Circumstances, situations, and conditions have nothing to do with true peace. Right relationship with God has everything to do with our hearts being that tranquil scene of serenity. Recall the Lord Jesus asleep in the midst of the storm that threatened to sink the ship on which He sailed the Sea of Galilee. He was at peace because His relationship with His Father was secure and serene. This is peace. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else (Colossians 3:15; Mark 4:38).

When all is right between ourselves and God, all is right. Challenges, problems, pains, and difficulties will still abound in a world such as the one in which we live, but the peace of grace and mercy abides in all those who affirm that God has given to us what the Lord Jesus deserves, and to Him what we deserved. Most importantly, love will abide and flourish in all who grow in the wonder of so great a salvation. Love will beget love as our devotion to our Lord increasingly springs forth from the knowledge of His devotion to us. There is no other way to be at peace, and no other way that the genuine love for God can be formed in us. Thankfully, we need no other way.

"Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means."

(II Thessalonians 3:16)