Perfect peace (1)
Writing in the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah said there was a “perfect peace” for those who trusted in God. Speaking of the idea of peace not on the national or international but on the personal level, what might such a perfection of peace be?
Some dictionary definitions of peace are “a state of tranquility or quiet . . . a state of security or order . . . freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts and emotions.” These can be experienced to some degree by any ordinary person at various times, and one does not have to believe in God to partake of them. Such experiences though are often fleeting and easily disturbed, mere hints or suggestions of what perfect peace might be.
Can we describe the “perfect peace” that Isaiah was speaking of? I think first of all it would need to be permanent and abiding. It would not last only so long as everything was going well, but disappear in a moment of adverse circumstances, unpleasant memories, or future anxieties. After all, a peace that could be lost at any moment could not be called perfect. Somehow it would have to be beyond the reach of the common evils, problems and pains of life – illnesses, accidents, fears, resentments, economic considerations, loneliness and so on.
Secondly, perfect peace would need to be extensive in time. It would need to cover not only present contingencies, but also past pains and anxieties about the future as well. Such a peace is not something offered by the world. This is why Isaiah says it must come from God. The peace that the world offers, including that which is available through ordinary powers of human reason and self-persuasion, is very fragile. It is not consistent and abiding, and it is not all-embracing.
The peace that the world offers does have its charms. When our jobs and social and/or family relationships are generally what we would have them to be, and the common pleasures of life are to be had, we can experience a fragile and imperfect sort of peace, or at least complacency and contentment. There are also many forms of escapism, such as entertainments in all their forms, food, social and political activities, and sports. These may not be bad in themselves, but when taken to excess can divert us from real confrontations with the problems of life and its meaning. And, there are more extreme coping mechanisms, such as alcohol, drugs, crime and radical political activism.
The ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca claimed that peace could be attained through philosophy. Writing in the 1st century AD, he said in his Moral Essays that the Stoic wise man was impervious to whatever might happen. “The assaults of adversity do not weaken the spirit of a brave man. It always maintains its poise, and it gives its own colour to everything that happens; for it is mightier than all external things . . . being in all else unmoved and calm rises to meet whatever assails him.” This, however, is a peace achieved by human wisdom and strength of will, and how many common and ordinary people such as ourselves are capable of such superiority to the world around us? This is a message only for the few, and even at its best is still imperfect and limited, leaving higher emotions of love and happiness behind.
Where, then, might perfect peace be found? And how, once found, is it to be sustained by ordinary people through all the trials of life? The New Testament gives us invaluable information on this. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians for example, we read of “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” What this might mean in practice is found in II Corinthians, where Paul writes: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” He also says in Philippians, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
The source of this peace is not human psychology, philosophy, will power or virtue. Neither does it come from having everything in the world just as we would like it. It is given by Jesus Christ, concerning whom the aforementioned prophet Isaiah made many references and prophecies centuries before. Christ also had much to say about true and lasting peace, what it might be and how it is attained. He said to his disciples in the Gospel of John, “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.”
And yet, how many of those who call themselves Christians have this perfect peace? Allowing for the imperfections of human nature, how many have it occasionally, or at least have some inkling of it? Christians are often indistinguishable from the world in so many ways. Why are so many wonderful biblical promises left unrealized, or displayed to outward appearance but not in spirit and in truth?
In next week’s post, God willing, I will try to examine these and related questions, including how more of the peace of God in Christ might be attained, and what factors might facilitate or hinder its acquisition.