THE LORD OF PEACE

2 Thess 3:16-18 Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Here we have the last recorded prayer of Paul to God on behalf of the church of Christ in Thessalonica. He prayed that they would receive one of God's greatest blessings - that of peace within their hearts and minds. Complete and lasting peace of mind comes only from God. This is the same closing prayer Paul made on behalf of the Christians of Rome (Rom. 15:33), and I am confident that it is the same prayer he made to God for every member of each body of Christ that was known to him. Peace comes from God because He is the Author of peace (1 Cor. 14:33).

In order for peace to be made available to all men and women of the world, God sent The Prince of Peace to earth in the form of a Savior - His Son, Jesus Christ, just as it had been prophesied by Isaiah (9:6). At the birth of the Savior, a heavenly host appeared praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14-14). Sincere and earnest peace comes only from God. And that peace was ushered into the world in the form of a holy Babe - the Son of God, born miraculously of woman, and was laid in a manger, there awaiting the unfolding of God's plan of eternal salvation for all that obey His will.

Eternal salvation in heaven! What a wonderful gift from our Creator that was made available to all men and women of the world. What wonderful peace if mind, and contentmen, it brings to all faithful Christians. And it is through Jesus Christ, and only through Jesus Christ, that God offers mankind this peace. It is a peace, ...which passeth all understanding - a peace that shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). Speaking of Jesus, Paul wrote this to the church in Ephesus: For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Eph. 2:14). From this we know that eternal rest in heaven is available to all mankind - both Jew and Gentile. By His death on the cross of Calvary, Jesus was the final sacrifice necessary for the middle wall of partition to be broken down, and removed, making all people one in Jesus Christ.

All that hear, believe, and obey God's will, by repenting of their past sinful lives, confessing His Son, Jesus Christ as their Savior, and being baptized into His body, become Christians and are added to the church of Christ by God, Himself. It is to these obedient men and women, and only to them, that peace can be found in the promise of eternal salvation. Just as He did to His apostles, Jesus offers this wonderful and comforting promise to all of His faithful followers: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Oh, that the world knew, believed, and obeyed God's holy word, through which the hope of eternal life is offered to all mankind. Oh, that the world could find the peace available only to those that become, and remain, faithful followers of Christ. To this Paul adds: The Lord be with you all. And from this we can also add: Oh, the comfort that can be found, in the promise of our Savior, that He will guide every step we take here on earth, and will always be with us, as He was with His apostles, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). The world offers much to mankind. All that diligently pursue it can find wealth, renown, influence, and power. And in worldly things one may find a false sense of security, comfort, and satisfaction. But without the peace that comes from above - without eternal peace available in Jesus Christ, all else is worthless. Indeed, there is no eternally lasting benefit in earthly accomplishments.

To be in the presence of God, and within His protective graces, one must be in Christ, that is, a member of His body, the church of Christ. Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matt. 1:23). This Son became the Savior of the world, through whom we have access to the hope of eternal salvation. He will be with us even unto the end of the world. By God's grace we, like the faithful Thessalonian Christians, have access to The Lord of Peace!