shoulder ready to overtake and de stroy him at any time. Yet he never felt forsaken. Listen to his testimony in Romans 8:38, 39, “For I am per suaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Finally, while he was cast down, he was not in despair. The idea here is of something which is of no use and can merely be cast aside. Many times people turned their backs on Paul. They were rude and arrogant. In writing to Timothy, he explained, “All they which are in Asia are turned away from me” (II Tim. 1: 15). What would the descriptive title “Prince of Peace” mean in such cir cumstances? The word peace in the Greek has the idea of completion as well as maturity. Many times in life there are a number of loose ends; we’re not quite sure how things fit together. Life is never more than a bunch of frazzled ends until one finds the Lord Jesus as Saviour, Lord and Master. It’s not unusual to hear a testimony wherein the person says that when he found Christ “it all made sense.” That’s why we’re told, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit.” Christ is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, and life takes on real mean ing. The Gospel is peace because it’s through the Saviour that we are finally reunited with our Maker and Creator. There are all kinds of frus trations when tasks are incomplete. Vital answers make life difficult at best. Only one’s knowledge by faith in Christ, can bring life to maturity, or bring real peace. You’ll have prob lems in life, make no mistake, but if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, life fits to gether and you will know Him as “the Prince of Peace.”
bilized. Everyone who came in con tact with him recognized that here was a vibrant life for Christ, an individual with a clear-cut testimony. Could this be true of us? At one time Paul and Silas were in jail together at Philippi. They were bruised and beaten. Yet Acts 16:25 tells us that they “prayed, and sang praises unto God.” Although hemmed in on every side, they weren’t immobilized. They still used their lips to praise God! Not only did the other prisoners hear them, but also the jailor and his family were converted. In fact, the church at Philippi was established as a re sult. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed our “Prince of Peace.” Paul further explains, “We are perplexed, but not in despair.” What an interesting play on words! While there seems to be no way to go, all the doors are closed, yet it is not an absolute situation. Humanly speak ing, it may be impossible, but there is always God’s way. Paul wanted to witness to the people at Rome. The Lord had promised him that he would go, but when he did, it would be at Rome’s expense as a prisoner. We could hardly blame this saint if he had argued, “That’s no way to go: to be thrown into a dungeon!” Many times there are perplexities, yet the way, on God’s timetable, is never closed. While in prison, the Apostle penned that tremendous epistle to the Church at Philippi, in which he wrote, “I have learned in whatso ever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11). Perhaps you have felt there was no way for you to go on. Yet, never forget that God always has a way. This is why Christ is “Prince of Peace.” Paul said that he was persecuted which gives the picture of people af ter him at all times. What an exam ple for us, as so often we may feel that we’re the one who may have problems. Yet, here was one who lived with people looking over his 12
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