Elusive Peace
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
04/11/2022
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
It has been nearly thirty years since singer/songwriter Billy Sprague, along with Wayne Kirkpatrick, penned the following lyrics:
"You've heard the stories. You've read the message in the pages. You consider the crucifixion: Is it fact or fiction for the ages? Did He really appear like they say that He did? Does it conquer the fear? Did He die so that we could live? You'd like to think that it's true. But you want to hold the intangible. To fashion the darkness into a familiar shape. To see with your eyes. To know in your mind. Oh ye of so little faith. Only the heart can hold the intangible. There is a chamber in the soul of the believer. It holds reason in defiance. The demanding hand of science may not enter. But let's just suppose how it would be to trade all you know for one ounce of true belief. Then you would learn the peace of that place."
These words describe the outlook of many within our society who are desperately longing for peace. Perhaps more than any other time in our nation's history-certainly more than any other time in our generation-people are searching for an inner peace that seems particularly elusive. These unsettling times have exposed a gaping hole within the hearts of many people where peace belongs yet is not found.
In an effort to fill that void, people will turn to various alternatives for peace. Some trust in riches. Others trust in knowledge. Some trust in the government or the military. Still others trust in friends and family. Yet, all of these have the potential to fail us at some time or another. There is only one thing that can bring lasting peace and that is a relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
You cannot buy peace. It cannot be quantified. Peace cannot be wrapped up in a nice, neat package and tucked away in your file cabinet or bank account. In fact, peace cannot even be stored in the recesses of your mind. Peace is intangible. And “only the heart can hold the intangible.” Peace belongs in that chamber of the heart that is reserved for just such a resident. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior have filled that chamber with peace. That is why Christians can take heart even though our outward man is perishing, because we know that inwardly we are being renewed by the presence and power of Jesus Christ.
When the chamber of your heart is filled with the peace of Christ you begin to look beyond what you can see and feel and touch. You begin to focus on the things that are not seen. You realize that what is seen is only temporary, whereas what is not seen is eternal. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith is what “holds reason in defiance.”
Everyone wants peace, especially in times like these. Everyone wants to lay hold of the intangible quality of peace. However, it is simply impossible to do so apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you searching for peace today? In the words of Kirkpatrick and Sprague, let me encourage you to imagine for a moment what it would be like to “trade all you know for one once of true belief.” Let me encourage you to reach out to Jesus Christ the Son of God who died and rose again for your sin. In simple faith, trust Him to forgive you and give you the gift of eternal life. If you will do that you will learn what true peace is really all about.
04/11/2022
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
It has been nearly thirty years since singer/songwriter Billy Sprague, along with Wayne Kirkpatrick, penned the following lyrics:
"You've heard the stories. You've read the message in the pages. You consider the crucifixion: Is it fact or fiction for the ages? Did He really appear like they say that He did? Does it conquer the fear? Did He die so that we could live? You'd like to think that it's true. But you want to hold the intangible. To fashion the darkness into a familiar shape. To see with your eyes. To know in your mind. Oh ye of so little faith. Only the heart can hold the intangible. There is a chamber in the soul of the believer. It holds reason in defiance. The demanding hand of science may not enter. But let's just suppose how it would be to trade all you know for one ounce of true belief. Then you would learn the peace of that place."
These words describe the outlook of many within our society who are desperately longing for peace. Perhaps more than any other time in our nation's history-certainly more than any other time in our generation-people are searching for an inner peace that seems particularly elusive. These unsettling times have exposed a gaping hole within the hearts of many people where peace belongs yet is not found.
In an effort to fill that void, people will turn to various alternatives for peace. Some trust in riches. Others trust in knowledge. Some trust in the government or the military. Still others trust in friends and family. Yet, all of these have the potential to fail us at some time or another. There is only one thing that can bring lasting peace and that is a relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
You cannot buy peace. It cannot be quantified. Peace cannot be wrapped up in a nice, neat package and tucked away in your file cabinet or bank account. In fact, peace cannot even be stored in the recesses of your mind. Peace is intangible. And “only the heart can hold the intangible.” Peace belongs in that chamber of the heart that is reserved for just such a resident. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior have filled that chamber with peace. That is why Christians can take heart even though our outward man is perishing, because we know that inwardly we are being renewed by the presence and power of Jesus Christ.
When the chamber of your heart is filled with the peace of Christ you begin to look beyond what you can see and feel and touch. You begin to focus on the things that are not seen. You realize that what is seen is only temporary, whereas what is not seen is eternal. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith is what “holds reason in defiance.”
Everyone wants peace, especially in times like these. Everyone wants to lay hold of the intangible quality of peace. However, it is simply impossible to do so apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you searching for peace today? In the words of Kirkpatrick and Sprague, let me encourage you to imagine for a moment what it would be like to “trade all you know for one once of true belief.” Let me encourage you to reach out to Jesus Christ the Son of God who died and rose again for your sin. In simple faith, trust Him to forgive you and give you the gift of eternal life. If you will do that you will learn what true peace is really all about.
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